Performance, Quality and Service Magnetic Gradiometers for Archaeological Prospection Spring 2008 Number 67

The ARCHAEOLOGIST

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1 Contents 2 Editorial 3 From the Finds Tray 4 The Archaeology Training Forum vision Kenneth Aitchison and Mike Heyworth page 6 5 Continuing Professional Development: a brave new direction for IFA Kenneth Aitchison and Roger White 6 Workplace Learning Bursaries – a training success Kate Geary 7 Benefits of bursaries: Zooarchaeology at Cardiff Richard Madgwick 8 Benefits of bursaries: Computing at York Emma Jane O’Riordan 9 Benefits of bursaries: Digital survey techniques at AOC Archaeology Group Gemma Hudson and Graeme Cavers 10 Training Headland Archaeologists Mike Middleton 12 Training in heritage consultancy with the Museum of London Archaeology Service Jon Chandler 14 Wet Dreams – future training in maritime archaeology with the Nautical Archaeology Society Mark Beattie-Edwards Safety training at sea Antony Firth page 20 16 17 Getting started: bursary schemes in Wessex Archaeology Roland Smith 18 Training for the profession: the Silchester experience Amanda Clarke 20 (Middle) East meets (South) West: a cross-cultural approach to field training Niall Finneran 22 Starting out in archaeology Richard Constable 23 IFA Finds Group training days Nicky Powell 24 Building skills: training in buildings archaeology and conservation Catharine Cavanagh 26 Historic Environment Local Management (HELM) update Adina Gleeson page 32 28 Training for the Portable Antiquities Scheme Sally Worrell 30 England’s Past for Everyone Catherine Cavanagh and Aretha George 32 Volunteering opportunities with the Young Archaeologists’ Club Nicky Milsted, YAC Communications Officer 34 Buried under Bidford: historic environment records and a community project Christina Evans 36 Teaching archaeology: changing patterns in UK Higher Education Timothy Darvill 38 Teach archaeology, not (just) history John Collis page 34 39 Schools and Further Education: engaging with the historic environment Don Henson 41 Course: Introduction to risk management Nick Waloff 42 The new British Archaeological Awards Alison Taylor 43 Archaeology and political advocacy Peter Hinton and Alison Taylor 45 W(h)ither the profession: a response Kenneth Aitchison 46 New members 47 Letters

Spring 2008 Number 67 1 FROM THE FINDS TRAY

IFA Finds Group list of specialists The IFA Finds group is now maintaining a list of specialists at http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/icontent/index.php ?page=202 (or find via the Find Group’s page on IFA’s Training and education concern your Editor felt should be clarified is the website). There are currently 90 specialists on the list, from Yearbook and directory, which members felt should be animal bone to worked stone. It includes freelance finds The plan for this TA is to look at issues of training circulated widely as a promotional tool. In fact, Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) workers as well as individuals in contracting organisations. from varying viewpoints. We therefore start with thanks to our publishers at Cathedral Update The list will be updated regularly, and may be modified appreciative accounts of the scheme of bursaries Communications, not only do all IFA members get Several house builders and developers now require the subject to user feedback. It is open to members and non- that IFA is running with support from the Heritage copies at no charge to IFA (we simply provide CSCS card from all site visitors and operatives, and they members of IFA, and is intended to help locate those working Lottery Fund. Kate Geary sets the scene for this, and editorial text and illustration), but it is circulated for need some form of accreditation in all tenders. There are and researching in a specific subject. we hear from individual bursary holders who are free to 3000 architectural, civil engineering and two forms of card, the occasional visitor’s card (yellow) clearly now set for glittering careers in their chosen surveyors practices, government agencies and and the construction related occupations card (white). If you would like to be included, contact [email protected]. pathways. Commercial archaeological organisations amenity groups, developers and specialist building Each costs £25 and the test £17.50 plus VAT. There is no set out the professional ways they approach contractors, local government officers and training but All the questions and all the answers for the Phil Mills, Chair IFA Finds Group equipping staff with new skills, we hear from Prof environmental impact consultants, and is therefore CITB Health and Safety Test published by CITB (ISBN Tim Darvill on the new university approach to an important way of informing vital sectors of the 1857512137) is available. Book the test and apply for the teaching archaeology, and learn how training is values of archaeology and the work of our members card online via www.cscs.uk.com. offered to local government through EH’s HELM and RAOs. The Yearbook should be coming through project and to the public through VCH’s England’s your letter box very soon and, apart from being a Mary Rose Heritage Lottery success Past for Everyone. We see how the needs of children useful reference tool, we hope you feel it gives a The Mary Rose Trust has just heard that it has secured a are met through the Young Archaeologists’ Club worthy picture of the scope of our profession today. major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund of £21 million Finds Group seminar: Slags and wasters and those of new graduates through training in If not, please send your editor ideas for more to complete conservation and to build a permanent Wednesday 4 June 2008, LAARC, Eagle Wharf fieldwork. From school children to senior managers, improvement. museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to house the Road, London there are inspiring case histories and ideas and hull and artefacts. The Trust has already received almost Speakers including Lynne Keys and Roy opportunities for training and education in this TA. And a final reminder – have you booked yet for £7 million so far, and was looking for a total of £35 million Stephenson will talk about aspects of industrial the IFA Annual Conference in Swansea, 18-20 to preserve the hull and artefacts and display them residues, including metal working and pottery In the next TA we will look at responses to the March? There may still be places available, so if together in a permanent museum. production. The seminar will be complemented by recent IFA survey of members’ opinions of our you still need to do so, contact a hands-on workshop in the autumn. See IFA publications and other services. One immediate [email protected]. Finds Group webpage for full programme, joining details and application form.

Details: Nicky Powell [email protected] Museum of London seminar: London delftware Alison Taylor study day [email protected] Saturday 17 May 2008, LAARC Eagle Wharf Road This seminar will coincide with the launch of a new MoLAS publication on excavated delft production Notes to contributors sites. This will be an opportunity to hear about new and recent finds and visit MoL reserve collections. Themes and deadlines Contributions and letter/emails are always welcome. TA is made EDITED by Alison Taylor, Summer: Archaeology and digitally available through our website 6 months after publication and if IFA, SHES, University of Details: Museum of London box office, archaeologists in Europe this raises copyright issues with any authors, artists or photographers, Reading, Whiteknights, Tel: 0870 444 3850, [email protected] deadline: 1 April 2008 please notify the editor. Accessed digitally, web links are especially PO Box 227 useful in articles, so do include these where relevant. Short articles (max. READING RG6 6AB Autumn: IFA Conference papers and 1000 words) are preferred. They should be sent as an email attachment, Annual Report which must include captions and credits for illustrations. The editor will DESIGNED and TYPESET deadline: 15 June 2008 edit and shorten if necessary. Illustrations are very important. These can by Sue Cawood be supplied as originals, on CD or as emails, at a minimum resolution of 500 kb. More detailed Notes for contributors for each issue are available PRINTED by Duffield from the editor. Opinions expressed in The Archaeologist are those of the Printers Ltd (Leeds)

authors, and are not necessarily those of IFA. Delftware saucers from Glasshouse Street © MoLAS Editorial

2 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 3 The Archaeology Training Forum CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: a brave new direction for IFA Kenneth Aitchison and Mike Heyworth vision Kenneth Aitchison and Roger White

information will be one key component and further The Archaeology Training Forum is the All around us the archaeological profession and further material will be produced soon. development of the Forum’s dedicated training representative body for organisations is being reshaped into the ‘Historic Updated guidance to Validation committee and information service (www.torc.org.uk) will be concerned with training provision and revised sections of the Applicants’ Handbook will be required. Environment’. Archaeologists are called complete by our 2008 AGM. demand in the UK’s historic environment. upon to deal with historic buildings, wrecks IFA works closely with other organisations The Forum’s specific aims, all focused on that vision and landscapes while coping with the This will then be tested by Council members and on this Forum to make sure that training for the future of archaeological training and career constant flow of new technologies and other volunteers by April 2009, allowing refining of development, now include for archaeologists at all stages in their approaches. If you want to keep ahead, to CPD guidance and the Applicants Handbook, for careers is taken forward in an effective seek an edge that will give you a better implementation from AGM 2009. From that point, working closely with Creative and Cultural and connected way. • we will expect new applicants to submit Personal Skills, the Sector Skills Council chance of that new job (and its higher Development Plans and CPD logs as part of the supporting the NVQ in Archaeological Practice salary) you need to show more than just The Forum is aware that there are longstanding • validation process, and an annual random sample of using the National Occupational Standards in enthusiasm on your CV. You need training, problems with career development, that entry • a percentage of the membership will be asked to Archaeological Practice routes to professional archaeology are limited, and you need to keep training throughout produce CPD evidence to maintain membership (as supporting learners at work and workers in career progression is difficult, the sector lacks • your career to stay up to date. As is often well as Council members, candidates to join Council learning diversity and pay is poor. The Forum considers that the case, it is best to do this little and often: and IFA staff). • embedding Apprenticeships engaging with skills issues is one good way to it isn’t rocket science but it does need • supporting the avocational sector. address these issues, and has developed a vision thought and some record keeping. There is This may seem like box-ticking and we appreciate that some may feel this is irrelevant: ‘I know how to These aims will lead to specific initiatives, a term for this: Continuing Professional do my job and why should I have to prove it?’ It for archaeology to be a meritocratic discipline that is open contributing both to ATF’s Vision and the future of Development, CPD. isn’t irrelevant. For a start, it will mean that the the archaeological profession in the UK. A public, our clients and other stakeholders can have to all, with archaeologists able to gain qualifications that conference is being planned in mid 2008 to publicise confidence in our work and its quality because we the achievements to date and foster debate on the can demonstrate that our skills are current and demonstrate their expert skills, competence and next steps. In 2000, IFA launched its CPD programme, bringing continuously updated. From a more personal point us into line with professional institutes such as of view, the process allows us to identify strengths knowledge and whose capabilities and achievements can Kenneth Aitchison RIBA, RICS, IHBC, ICON, et al. The difference is and weaknesses. It permits us to take a look at the IFA head of training and standards that with them, CPD is compulsory whereas for IFA direction we are going, and at the new opportunities be appropriately valued and rewarded. it has been a professional obligation for members to that might arise as a result of new initiatives or Mike Heyworth maintain, enhance and update their skills and procedures. In short, you can translate CPD in two Chair, Archaeology Training Forum Demand for structured and appropriate training is competences (see note attached to rule 1.4 of the ways: Continuing Professional Development, or Director, Council for British Archaeology high across the archaeological profession and the Code of conduct). That is about to change. IFA Continuing Personal Development: both will be of avocational sector, and this demand is likely to Council has decided that members will soon not interest and value to members of IFA at whatever increase as external drivers, including the White only have to demonstrate their competence when level. Paper on heritage protection, the Leitch report on skills, joining the Institute, but must show they are and governmental housing policy will all contribute keeping their skills up-to-date through personal Kenneth Aitchison to the growth and development of the sector. So far, commitment to CPD. IFA staff and members of the IFA head of professional development development of National Occupational Standards Professional Training Committee are working on and the NVQ in Archaeological Practice have been updating the CPD guidance to members – a start Roger White key initiatives, but their use and accessibility still has been made by Roger White, chair of PTC, who Chair of IFA Professional Training Committee need to be strongly supported before they fully has produced a guide (www.archaeologists.net University of Birmingham, Institute of Archaeology realise their potential. Provision of relevant >training >CPD or http://tinyurl.com/2fwz88) – and Antiquity CPD

4 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 5 Workplace Learning Bursaries – Benefits of bursaries: a training success Kate Geary Zooarchaeology Back in 2006 we reported on our successful HLF bid to fund – training plans, learning agreements, contracts etc – workplace learning bursaries. Now, half way through a four-year is available on the Bursaries page of the IFA website. at Cardiff These can be downloaded and adapted by those programme, eighteen bursaries have been awarded in specialist introducing structured training schemes or to areas as diverse as finds and environmental work, buildings formalise current on-the-job training. Richard Madgwick recording, digital archaeology, maritime archaeology and rural heritage management. Eight placements have been completed, For the second year, HLF and EPPIC placement with two trainees leaving their placements early after successfully schemes will be showcased at IFA’s annual applying for jobs. So far, all our completers have moved on to conference. Details, with case studies and podcasts jobs in related subjects or to further study. Case studies (p7–9) from last year’s conference, are available at http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/icontent/ My 12 month HLF internship in zooarchaeology at give a flavour of placements; more information is available on index.php?page=156. Placement opportunities for Cardiff University finished in December. Having the IFA website (below). the third year of the project have now been completed a Masters in osteoarchaeology shortly finalised, but organisations wishing to offer before applying for the position, I had already We always knew these placements would be placements for the final year will find details of how learned techniques of zooarchaeological analysis popular, given the lack of opportunities for to proceed on the website too. structured training in archaeology. What we weren’t but found it difficult to get employment using the sure was the response from potential hosts. After a Kate Geary skills I had gained; the same stumbling block Practical training: zooarchaeology at Cardiff cautious start however we have organisations IFA training and standards co-ordinator always arose – lack of professional experience. queuing up, and the experience of hosting a placement has been found extremely positive for the The placement provided me with tremendously bursaries organisations involved. Organisations offering diverse experience, and also opportunities to placements have ranged from national agencies develop a range of zooarchaeological skills to a Since the placement, I have extended research (English Heritage and the Royal Commissions), professional level under the guidance of well carried out during the internship on skeletal through local authorities and universities to established specialists. The bulk of my time at material from later prehistoric British middens as independent companies and charitable Cardiff has been spent analysing skeletal material part of an AHRC-funded PhD at Cardiff. My Gemma Hudson, IFA bursary holder, learning organisations. In some cases trainees are employed and writing the resulting assessments and reports. chances of obtaining funding were unquestionably and working with AOC Archaeology directly by the host organisation and in others by This has included research on faunal assemblages enhanced as a result of the workplace learning IFA and seconded to the host. All placements have a spanning the Bronze Age to post-medieval period bursary scheme, which has furnished me with the structured training plan identifying the aims of the from the whole of Britain, and incorporated analysis skills and experience to embark upon a career in placement and how they will be achieved, a of birds, small mammals and amphibians. In zooarchaeological research. learning agreement recording trainee achievements, addition I gained experience of the isotopic analysis and a three-way contract formalising the roles and of skeletal material at the McDonald Institute, IFA internships are beneficial to all parties. responsibilities of trainee, host and IFA. Cambridge, and assisted with the maintenance and Successful applicants gain valuable experience and expansion of Cardiff University’s reference training, institutions get enthusiastic trainees, and bursaries Funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund is collection and creation of a website for Cardiff archaeology as a discipline benefits from more specifically targeted at capacity building: it is not Osteoarchaeological Research Group. I have also skilled individuals with professional experience HLF’s role to fund training for the sector and there been fortunate enough to work on projects in Wales, will be no extensions or opportunities to apply for Scotland and Albania. Richard Madgwick further grants. Sustainability has been a concern from School of History & Archaeology the outset, and the success of placements has Dissemination of research findings has been a Cardiff University highlighted the demand for high quality training of crucial feature of the internship. I have presented Humanities Building this kind. The English Heritage EPPIC placement papers and posters at several British and European Colum Drive scheme, now also administered by IFA, has been conferences as well as publishing two academic Cardiff CF10 3EU equally successful and, while funding for placements papers. This has ensured that my work has been 029) 20879049 in 2008/9 has recently been confirmed, it is subject to academic rigour and is completed to a determined on a year by year basis. To secure long professional standard. [email protected] term sustainability we now need other organisations to take up the model of structured training and to use it their own workplaces. To this end, documentation

6 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 7 Benefits of bursaries: Benefits of bursaries: bursaries For the journal I marked up articles for publication Computing and creating metadata. I also went through back Digital survey issues to bring the XHTML and occasionally the CSS up to date. The task with most responsibility was at York publication of the Mesolithic themed Issue 22 techniques (http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue22/) – everything Emma Jane O’Riordan from liaison with authors through to publication. Gemma Hudson and Graeme Cavers

I now work as a Research Assistant in the University of Reading, working on the JISC-funded Virtual My HLF bursary post was split between the Under the supervision of Graeme Cavers at AOC equipment, embedding survey skills within all Environments for Research in Archaeology project, Archaeology Data Service (ADS) and Internet Archaeology Group, the HLF bursary holder, AOC fieldwork staff. where we hope to create a way for archaeologists to Archaeology, both based at King’s Manor, York. The Gemma Hudson, has gained experience in survey capture and share information digitally before, Success of the bursary so far is evident from two roles required different skills and techniques techniques such as short and medium-range laser during and after excavation. My role is to translate Gemma’s handling of survey data and in the although there was some overlap. the wishes of the Silchester team into something for scanning, differential GPS and total station survey. number and quality of surveys that AOC have the Systems Engineering RA to work on. I am also She has conducted surveys on sites across accomplished using her skills. The placement has At ADS, my tasks included website design, developing on-site training for staff and students so Scotland varying from historic building recording developed the skills of the bursary holder, as well validation and maintenance, production and editing they can use new technologies for digital recording and landscape survey to experimental as helping to develop and refine the company of the online ADS newsletter, and creation and and evaluating the performance of our trials. archaeology, her work ranging from field survey to partners’ survey expertise more generally. mounting of both standard and non-standard data processing and producing the finished article, project digital archives. Whilst working for Internet I don’t think I would have stood a chance of getting Gemma Hudson and Graeme Cavers whether this is 3D data representation, CAD Archaeology I was involved with creation of this job without the experience I gained from my AOC Archaeology Group metadata for new and old articles, procedure placement and think that the practical opportunities drawing or illustration for the client. development, mark-up of new articles, liaising with they give people are a fantastic and useful idea. authors, marketing, and learning different aspects Gemma has built on her existing CAD skills and of electronic publishing. I was also able to sit in on Emma Jane O’Riordan produced a wide range of detailed 2D elevation the lectures and practicals for the Masters in Research Assistant, Virtual Environments for Research drawings, plans and sections of buildings which Gemma Hudson, laser scanning the environs of Ormaig rock art, Argyll Archaeological Information Studies. This teaching in Archaeology she had assisted in scanning. She has also got to involved working with GIS, 3D modelling, theory, Department of Archaeology, University of Reading grips with processing the point clouds produced archiving and electronic publication. Whiteknights by laser-scanning and manipulating them for use Reading RG6 6AY in AutoCAD or for production of video or image The first archive I worked on at ADS was Quantifying 0118 378 7564 representations. She has gained archaeological the Functional Utility of Handaxe Symmetry: An [email protected] survey skills using survey grade GPS and total Experimental Butchery Approach (http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/ stations, and has become central to the company’s catalogue/resources.html?butchery_ba_2006). This strategy in disseminating these skills more widely was a good collection to start with, as the downloads throughout its staff. Other skills include collating,

bursaries consisted of simple PDF files and it was easy to learn analysing and presenting surveyed data using how to create, preserve and disseminate these. By the mapping, GIS and illustration packages such as time I left York, though, I had worked on a great ArcGIS, AutoCAD and Adobe Illustrator. Using variety of archives and collections, my final project ArcGIS, large data sets are managed to produce being The Silchester Project: Roman Town Insula IX. The data terrain models of various types and to Development of an Urban Property c. AD 40-50 – c. AD develop find translocation models from 250 (http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources. experimental archaeology projects. This work html?silchester_ahrc_2007), a complex collection feeds into development of AOC survey techniques which the authors wanted as an interactive database to ensure we create the best archaeological with image gallery. The archive would also be records possible, as well as providing clients with available through an Internet Archaeology article as the most useful data and illustrations, along with part of the Linking Electronic Archives and improving archiving methods. She is also Publication project (LEAP). The Silchester Project, an interactive database with image gallery training other AOC staff to use the survey

8 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 9 What is a company Training Headland Archaeologists manual? Functionality mapped out the company’s structure and Mike Middleton defined roles, responsibilities, policies and procedures. Headland has always recognised the value on skills and knowledge. NOS changed the Combined with existing of investing in training, for qualified and language. Skills and knowledge were still important practical guidance by way of a guidance trained staff are a rare commodity, but the but NOS replaced these with responsibility as the primary focus to training. The mapping process was index, it will provide challenge has always been in predicting not easy, but, as a result of this exercise, Headland Headland with a future needs. Now we are trying to pre- was able to identify five levels of responsibility and comprehensive guidance empt problems and resource skills gaps then to define the roles needed within the document before they develop. It has only been by organisation for the company to perform more developing and investing in the systems efficiently. The process, known as Functionality, and structure identified below that we looked at what roles the company needed and what have been able to grow and to deliver a roles hold responsibility, without reference to available staff. The aim was to define a company consistent quality service to our clients structure where responsibilities and roles are clearly and opportunities for career development mapped out. to our staff. Training audit As with NOS mapping, creating a functional structure was painful and tortuous, but this now Finds bag or finds tray? Company structure provides a clear framework, allowing us to provide Company manual Training can only First attempts at informal training included written staff with new job titles accompanied by functional, We also want to build practical guidance resources prepare you for so much guidance aimed at standardising procedures. NOS compliant, job descriptions that clearly define into a company manual of policies, procedures and but having a clearly Practical guidance too was always useful, but it was the roles and responsibilities expected. With a guidance documents, providing something that defined structure not until mapping the company against National structure in place, we could run a training audit, remains relevant, current and accessible. Our plan is supported by clear job Occupational Standards (NOS) that a structured asking staff what training they needed, with to produce a comprehensive guidance index that description that defines training programme began to develop. These totally reference to their new job descriptions. It also defines why a task is important; who is responsible; roles and responsibilities changed the way we looked at training and career looked separately at the company’s needs, aiming what guidance is required or available and where it makes it easy for staff to development. Previously, our training was focused to identify potential skills and/or knowledge gaps is located. The belief is that the guidance index will know when to seek within the functional structure. This ran parallel to be a small document providing a way into more support and who from. an annual review system which allocated all detailed guidance and identifying where guidance permanent staff a line manager who, together with is lacking. In this case, the index identifies who best the employee, defined personal development to talk to. It also identifies where guidance needs to objectives and reviewed them every six months. be produced.

The aim now is to set up a structure where annual With most structures and systems in place we are reviews are complemented by an annual skills audit beginning to see the benefits. Based on an agreed which feeds back into the annual review process by training programme, developed using the results of How do you decide who defining a series of broad areas where line the skills audit and annual reviews, a budget can be is more senior between managers can target training and development. built into project costing calculations. A tangible various specialists? The Known as ‘Key Results Areas’ the intention is to benefit has been the ability to identify skills gaps. Mike Middleton National Occupational focus staff training in areas where staff This enabled Headland to host an IFA HLF bursary Training Manager, Headland Archaeology Ltd, Standards in conjunction development complements the company’s needs. position and also to define recruitment needs. Edinburgh with Functionality We need to allow training to be bought in, set up Only through investment in training can we allowed Headland to and programmed while also listing objectives by continue to deliver a quality archaeological service Photographs: Brian Mac Domhnaill & Tom Small differentiate by mapping individual so that individuals and line managers to our clients as well as the best possible career in out their roles and can monitor career and professional development. terms of development and advancement to our staff. responsibilities rather than trying to differentiate using their very different skills and knowledge.

10 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 11 Training in heritage consultancy with the Museum of London Archaeology Service Jon Chandler

MoLAS Assessment Team uses the latest For the client, DBAs (and in particular EIAs), are technology, including ArcGIS, AutoCAD important at an early stage of the planning process. 2007, air photograph rectification The assessment needs to be ‘fit for purpose’, software, and Rockworks deposit consulting the right sources, with the correct modelling software. The team is supported conclusions regarding archaeological potential and by in-house specialists on the built the archaeological implications of the development heritage, geoarchaeology and geomatics. proposals. The study often goes on to form the MoLAS bedrock for subsequent stages (ie fieldwork).

The current market for archaeological assessment work is competitive. Good Archaeological features map. Crown Copyright. City of London 100023243 2007 training is essential in order to be three months. Subject to satisfactory progress, the able to produce high quality training is extended for a further three months. assessments within the timescales Following a final appraisal at six months, upon typically required of the successful completion of the training, the candidate commercial archaeology. It is is taken on as core staff within the MoLAS unrealistic to expect someone with Assessment Team. little or no consultancy experience to achieve this without Skills that the training aims to develop include considerable training (regardless of whether the individual has • report writing substantial fieldwork experience). • figure preparation ‘Getting up to speed’ is one of the • knowing the range of data sources available for key training goals but in reality consultation can take years. Good training is It is widely recognised that cultural heritage • using archives, record offices and local studies essential preparation for a consultancy is a discipline in its own right and, as libraries working environment that has the with archaeological fieldwork and post-excavation • understanding legislative and planning policy constant pressure of delivery and work, requires development of a broad range of frameworks deadlines, often entailing working specialist skills over a number of years. Over the • understanding geology and topography and simultaneously on a number of last year, the Museum of London Archaeology using geotechnical data projects at differing stages of Service (MoLAS) has introduced a six-month in- • assessing past impacts completion. Not everyone is house training programme that provides firm • understanding the range of potential impacts suited, and this often emerges Horwood’s map of 1799, georeferenced foundations on which to develop the necessary from various construction activities during the training. skills and knowledge required of consultancy work. • understanding architectural and engineering Trainees are selected internally with an interview drawings Several staff have been trained in and written test (a simple map regression exercise; • making the most of site visits, use of correct this way and are now valuable essentially to see if they have reasonable writing recording procedures, interpreting earthworks members of the Assessment Team. skills). The successful candidate is given an • identification and interpretation of features This has been achieved without it introduction to the current legislative and planning visible as cropmarks or earthworks on air being a significant overhead to the framework (how it came about and how it is photographs organisation. We are now looking applied); client/curator/ contractor relationships; • characterising the historic landscape at a range of possibilities for the purpose, sources and content of archaeological • developing sound judgement regarding extending the training, with desk-based assessments (DBAs) and Environmental archaeological potential and significance partnerships and secondments to Impact Assessments (EIAs), and the types of • outlining suitable mitigations strategies and other organisations, and linking mitigation strategies that might be recommended as recommendations for further work up with other environmental a next stage of work. • understanding Environmental Impact specialists. Assessment methodology and approach The training is acquired whilst working on projects, • learning to communicate with the clients and Jon Chandler under close supervision. The principles of other specialists Assessment Manager continuous performance management are applied, • using ArcGIS (Geographical Information System) Museum of London Archaeology and progress is reviewed with a formal appraisal at and Aerial (air photo rectification software) Service MoLAS

12 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 13 assessment can also be difficult on real sites and the For more information on the Nautical Archaeology results difficult to quantify. Imagine supervising a Society, see www.nauticalarchaeologysociety.org Wet Dreams – trainee on land excavating fragile organics, with a gale blowing them away while a fog reduces Mark Beattie-Edwards visibility to less than a metre! To overcome this, Project Manager Underwater excavation future training in maritime archaeology NAS has developed a simulated underwater Nautical Archaeology Society course using a with the Nautical Archaeology Society excavation course as part of its Part 3 modules, [email protected] simulated archaeological where a simulated stratified site is created within a site. Photograph: Mark box that the students are required to excavate, Beattie-Edwards Mark Beattie-Edwards record and interpret. Archaeological practitioners will still need evidence that they have excavated real sites satisfactorily, but NAS believes that the most accurate assessment of competence can be made when the assessor already knows what the to a nationally recognised measure of competency at excavation should reveal. both project officer grade (Level 3) and project supervisor/manager grade (Level 4). NAS has The first officially recorded training course So what will the future of vocational already registered its interest with EDI to establish training look like for maritime archaeology? in underwater and foreshore archaeology itself as an assessment centre, has registered two The aspiration is that the Vocational provided by the Nautical Archaeology assessors and one internal verifier, and has got its Society (NAS) was delivered in 1986 at first candidate (an IFA HLF Workplace Bursary Qualification will become an accepted Bristol University. Since then, NAS has student) enrolled at Level 3. measure of workplace skills within our seen 10,000 people attend its UK training profession, and that employers and curators events and has exported the training Formulating the mechanics and resources required will take the qualification seriously enough to deliver the qualification is more complicated. The programme to twelve countries around the to consider it a valuable employee and first step has been to look critically at the current volunteer commodity. world. Now, NAS is becoming an training programme and to map it against the assessment centre for the new Vocational National Occupation Standards (NOS) for Qualification in Archaeological Practice. Archaeological Practice. As a direct result of this review NAS has already introduced a new module Protection and education within its Part 3 syllabus on Managing Archaeology. Successful development of the NAS training programme stems from mass participation of Competent practitioners volunteer divers on the Mary Rose project. This When looking at the pedagogy of the NAS ‘community archaeology’ excavation significantly programme and incorporation of the vocational raised the public profile of underwater archaeology qualification it becomes apparent that the two and was followed in 1989 by the important policy programmes already overlap well (see flow paper Heritage at Sea, which was presented to the diagram) – both are modular, learner-centric and UK government by the Joint Nautical Archaeology incorporate a variety of assessment methods Policy Committee. That document set out proposals (courses, practical assessment, report and portfolio for the ‘better protection of archaeological sites submission) and at their core both aim to create a underwater’ and included the statement that competent practitioner who is an asset to the ‘education can play almost as important a role as practice of archaeology. legislation in the protection of the underwater cultural heritage’. With funding from the Department of Simulated underwater excavation National Heritage (now DCMS) in 1991 it paved the Of course there are still issues that require formal way for NAS to develop a modular training syllabus definitions for assessment purposes and agreement that positively encourages public participation in with the NVQ awarding body. For example, can a maritime archaeological investigations. shipwreck be constituted a workplace? And will it be permissible to assess competence in underwater Accreditation excavation in a simulated environment rather than Although widely accepted as an indication of on an actual site? NAS believes that using a training and skills in archaeological techniques the simulated environment for assessment exercises is NAS Training Programme has never been accredited more appropriate than excavating a real site, as by an awarding body as a formal qualification. As underwater excavation is rarely undertaken and part of a strategic review NAS has now identified should be carried out by people who can already that the Vocational Qualification will provide a route demonstrate their competence. The logistics for Flow diagram of NAS training programme and that proposed for implementation of the NVQ with the NAS

14 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 15 SAFETY TRAINING at SEA Antony Firth Getting started: bursary schemes taught other skills like finds and environmental processing, surveying and training in how to in Wessex research and write a desk-based assessment.’ Stella oastal and marine archaeology, as part of the Coastal and Marine staff have also undergone VHF De-Villiers (2007) also acknowledges that the broader discipline of archaeology, involves a whole radio training and training in boat handling. experience she has gained has been ‘important in my range of cross-cutting specialisms: maritime Archaeology future career. This scheme definitely has a future’. history or techniques of investigation, for Training alone will not make the sea safe, but it is example. A degree of specialism in the business of an essential component – combined with the right Inevitably the bursary introduces recent graduates archaeology is also required, which again can be equipment and thorough safety management – in Roland Smith into situations that could not have been anticipated Csupported by training in, for example, marine enabling staff to work confidently despite the at university. Mike Dinwiddy (1999) recalls finding legislation, Environmental Assessment, MS Project hazards. And this, in turns, means that they can get ladies’ suspender clips during a metal detecting and so on. There is also training required simply to on with doing good archaeology. survey near Gravesend. With remarkable insight, ‘be’ at the coast or at sea. This training is principally not to say knowledge of underwear, he interpreted concerned with staying alive in a hazardous Antony Firth this as representing the high numbers of land girls environment. Head of Coastal and Marine Projects ‘It’s a Catch 22 situation’. How often working the fields of Kent during the second world Wessex Archaeology has this been said by recent graduates war. The most obvious example is diver training. Diving desperate to start a professional career as such is not too difficult, and tens of thousands of Today, virtually all the participants are still people go diving recreationally with relatively little but faced by advertisements requiring employed by Wessex Archaeology, although the training, and without mishap. Diving at work is a previous professional archaeological scheme also provides a platform to move into other bit different and, generally speaking, needs a areas. Catharine McHarg, for example, is now commercial diver training course recognised by the experience? Education Officer at the National Monuments Health and Safety Executive (HSE). There are Record Centre, Swindon. The most senior is Gail several levels of training available. At Wessex Wessex Archaeology took a step to address this Wakeham who joined in 1998 and is now a Senior

Archaeology we require ‘HSE Surface Supplied’ problem in 1998, introducing a ‘bursary’ scheme Project Officer. She says ‘Wessex has an excellent Wessex Archaeology’s (previously known as HSE III) as a minimum. for recent graduates. The scheme targeted talented career structure; if you’re willing to work hard you successes through the recent graduates from our local universities who can progress if you want to’. bursary scheme, Laura Commercial diver training is expensive and requires wanted to pursue a professional career but who Catlin, Mike Dinwiddy, a 5-6 week course. Wessex is not able to meet all were starting from a position of no or very limited Wessex Archaeology’s home grown scheme may not Stella De-Villiers and Gail costs, but does support staff with leave and soft practical experience. Starting with Southampton, be as well structured as the recent and successful Wakeham loans. Divers also need to pass a medical the scheme was expanded to include Bournemouth EPPIC and HLF examination each year, and to maintain First Aid at and Winchester. funded Workplace Work (FAW) training, preferably including Oxygen Learning Bursaries, Administration. Wessex meets these costs directly, Laura Catlin, who joined Wessex in 2004 from but it has encouraged and we also assisted a local doctor in becoming Southampton said that ‘having spent three years and supported several ‘HSE-recognised’. We also provide paramedic at university being told that there was no work in graduates in achieving Training alone training for selected diving staff. As a member of the commercial archaeology and that jobs were like their ambitions of will not make Association of Diving Contractors (ADC), we also gold dust, the bursary scheme seemed like a having successful support the ADC Diving Supervisors Scheme, which solution to this problem. It offered 6 months careers. As Laura the sea safe, but involves pre-qualification on the basis of experience experience and employment, an opportunity too Catlin says ‘the it is an essential plus an examination, a benchmark for assessing good to miss.’ scheme not only has a competence in supervising diving operations. component in future at Wessex but is The scheme emphasises hands-on practical something that should enabling staff to People working offshore also have medical experience, with training and professional be considered by other work confidently examinations for work, and all staff involved in development opportunities provided as archaeological units’. coastal and marine work – on survey boats, on the circumstances arise. Although the focus is on despite the waterside or on dredgers, for example – undertake a fieldwork, there are opportunities to gain experience Roland Smith hazards. one-day course in Personal Survival Training. Most and learn skills in other areas. Laura added ‘I was Wessex Archaeology

Setting off safely. Copyright Wessex Archaeology

16 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 17 students to work in small groups to solve problems Traineeships Employment Training for the profession: and assess challenges. All students gain transferable Within the Department, a second year Fieldwork How successful is Silchester at creating a link skills, interacting with the public on Open Days, Group consists of students who want a career in between that first fieldwork experience and the Silchester working with visiting schools and devising team fieldwork. These students receive details of employment? Look no further than Oxford situations to solve archaeological problems (and to excavations and other projects and often use these Archaeology, the foremost local employer of experience Amanda Clarke get the toilets cleaned and the tea made!). The for dissertation topics, thus allowing integration of Reading archaeology graduates. In 2005, Oxford module assessment focuses on self-evaluation, practical and academic work. They also become Archaeology was the single biggest employer of continuous assessment and a practical on-site ‘exam’. eligible for Silchester traineeships, which adds ALL Reading graduates after the National Health greatly to the student practical experience, expands Service. Not bad for a comparatively small ‘Fieldwork constitutes an essential aspect of Doing and teaching their CVs and helps them onto the first step of the university department and a degree often dismissed All participants are trained to be ‘thinking’ field professional archaeology ladder. For a basic hourly as being without job prospects. In 2005, 19% found the engagement with professional practice’ archaeologists and take full responsibility (under wage, 44 hours a week, all trainees contribute to the full time work with a professional archaeological informal basic training of all newcomers to their unit and in 2006 34% had. Oxford Archaeology itself Quality supervision) for excavation and recording of their The QAA Subject Review of Archaeology singled own area – and are encouraged to follow this supervisory team, undertake any excavation or boasts over 22 Reading graduates currently in the Assurance out the Silchester Field School, run by the through into post-excavation processes, an recording which requires an experienced eye, guide field and eight in the office. Agency Department of Archaeology at the University of understanding of the site’s Integrated and encourage newcomers, be aware of site etiquette Archaeological Reading, in 2001: ‘It…provides a coherent and well- Archaeological Database and the part their own and help enforce this within the team, and carry out The training excavation at Silchester therefore Benchmarking delivered field course much appreciated by records will play in the project’s web-based duties assigned on a daily basis by their Supervisor. bridges undergraduate inexperience and the Statement students. It is an example of the integration of publications. The best way to learn is to do it, and Up to ten Trainee posts are filled each season, competitive world of the digger. Training and research and professional practice into the the second best way is to teach someone else – and including Finds, Planning and Science Trainees. assessment at the end of the undergraduate first undergraduate programme and allows direct Silchester provides this fully inclusive Their training cannot simulate the working year lead to consolidation and broadening of experience of field methods, interpretation and archaeological experience to all participants. environment of a pressurised commercial excavation experience in the second year both in the field and communication with the public.’ Each year over 300 but it does the next best thing, helping students feel in the classroom, which in turn leads to participants take part in the excavation, which runs First contracts comfortable in any archaeological situation. responsibility in the third year. The Reading degree for six weeks. Alongside Reading undergraduates At Reading, a compulsory module, Professional is designed to give equal weight to transferable and there are students from other universities, overseas Careers in Archaeology, ‘aims to introduce students Each season Silchester hosts representatives from academic skills, and the Silchester module is students, A-level students, mature students and to a wide range of activities and duties undertaken professional archaeological organisations, who talk designed to provide an environment which fosters those attending out of interest. by professional archaeologists in Britain’ (Part 2 about opportunities and openings as well as giving teamwork, numeracy, data-analysis and Module Handbook). The module uses professional advice on how to apply for jobs. At this stage the communication. Teaching and learning at Silchester Developmental training programme field archaeologists (eg from Oxford Archaeology trainees can hand over their CVs and receive calls are an innovative combination of interactive on-site Teamwork in action A busy working day Over the last six years, the Field School has and Cotswold Archaeology), who offer practical for interviews. The Field School Director is available sessions, reinforced by practical expression in a real at Silchester 2006; at Silchester Insula progressed to providing a developmental training advice on gaining that first elusive field contract. to provide verbal references. The reputation of the work situation. the Xth season of IX (below) programme. The first two weeks at Silchester provide Students are encouraged to explore available Silchester Field School provides a ‘stamp’ which work in Insula IX a theoretical basis which is consolidated during the opportunities, to think ahead and create a portfolio helps fast track Reading graduates into professional (below) Silchester’s teaching second fortnight. A teaching and learning of achievements. Assessment on this module is via vacancies, and to date all of our graduating third Amanda Clarke and learning environment is created which combines short talks written exercises covering self-assessment, career years with a Silchester ‘Traineeship’ have walked Director, Silchester Field School A teaching session in environment with regular hands-on experience, encouraging profiling and self-promotion. into field posts. Department of Archaeology, University of Reading Silchester’s marquee (below right) (below left)

18 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 19 introduced. A morning at Tintagel introduced Trowelling floor deposits (Middle) EAST meets (South) WEST: students to site presentation and management, as of the major structure at well as engaging in non-invasive buildings Old Melorn. Photograph: a cross-cultural approach to field training recording on the chapel structure of St Juliot; (basic G Tassie structures of church or mosque are broadly similar). A visit to the Historic Environment Service at County Hall in Truro provided the basics of computer databases underpinning the HER, Niall Finneran planning issues, and the story behind creation of the Cornwall and west Devon UNESCO WHS.

Such issues are alien to archaeologists in the UAE and many countries in the region, although rumours suggest the first Gulf HER might not be far off. The pace of development in Abu Dhabi and Dubai is well known; as exotically-shaped islands Nick Hanks leads a proliferate off the littoral and new resorts take Aziz Al-Hajri critiques landscape archaeology shape, archaeology of the prehistoric and pre- English Heritage signage seminar in a prehistoric hut Islamic periods is being lost. We have given food for at Tintagel. Photograph: circle on Bodmin Moor. thought, and for this we thank Steve Hartgroves G Tassie Photograph: G Tassie and his team for a stimulating morning.

HISTORICAL LINKS The need for fieldwork training as part of Joe Parsons left the students in no doubt of the a two-year museum studies course for CONTEXT RECORDING FOR ARABIA historical significance of the landscape that they seven students from the United Arab The programme had to be concentrated and wide- were investigating, though Arthurian connections Emirates led to work at Joe Parsons’ sites ranging, covering skills required in the heritage had to be treated with care (and yes, these are environment. Traditional approaches to survey were known in the Arab Emirates). King Arthur’s Stone (already tested in 2005 and 2006) at the tackled by Nick Hanks and Geoffrey Tassie; is dated to approximately 540AD, and it would be Arthurian Centre at Slaughterbridge, Geoffrey has recently completed a field manual – good to know more about the people that lived here Camelford, North Cornwall. We can now Standards of archaeological excavation: methodology, then and in earlier years. In an interview on Radio reflect on the experience of training seven recording techniques, and conventions: Field Handbook – Cornwall, one of the more voluble students, Aziz al Niall Finneran explains Bedouin students in British field for teaching in Southwest Asia and Africa, and this Hajri, gleefully told our interviewer that he was the finer points of archaeology during a week of fine formed the basis of the teaching material on site. looking for coins or pottery which could link the The importance of recording in different media, Tintagel region to his homeland in the Gulf. In fact, building recording at weather, culture shocks (on both sides), photographic, drawn and written, was emphasised. given the concentration of eastern Mediterranean Tintagel. Photograph: and no end of excitement, overshadowed Excavation focused upon the use of single context pottery at Tintagel in early medieval contexts he G Tassie by the shades of Arthur. recording, which (especially in academic circles) is may not be too far off the mark. rarely used in Southwest Asia and Africa, although the situation is gradually improving. Traditional Information on Tintagel and its presentation is LIFE AND DEATH, BATTLES AND GARDENS techniques prevail, and the three Cs – Clearance, available at www.arthur-online.co.uk; the Slaughterbridge contains a useful range of Cleaning, and Claiming it – are still practised, with excavation archive created by Nick Hanks at archaeology, both historical and medieval, and is archaeologists leaving labourers to excavate the site www.handstones.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/nickhanks close to the rich archaeological landscape of Bodmin and bring them finds. Our approach, (with /profexcavation.htm. Anyone interested in an Moor and the dramatic medieval sites of Tintagel. simplified context recording sheets translated into educational visit or for more extended The site includes Old Melorn, a DMV with Arabic), placed responsibility upon the archaeological training programmes please contact distinctive standing walls infilled by shillit (slate archaeologist, and to our delight the students [email protected]. aggregate) which, although hard to dig, makes for responded very positively. In some small way, we easy recognition of features. Special interest attaches might have contributed to the development of field Niall Finneran Joe Parsons to the inscribed Ogham stone (popularly known as archaeology methodology in the Arabian Peninsula. Dept Art History and Archaeology, SOAS, London Arthurian Centre, Slaughterbridge, Camelford, the Arthur Stone) adjacent to the site, there are Continuing Education, University of Bristol Cornwall remains of an 18th-century garden constructed by ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTINUUM [email protected] [email protected] Lady Falmouth who then lived at Worthyvale A trip to Bodmin Moor under expert guidance manor, and the river crossing is the alleged introduced the concept of archaeological landscape Nick Hanks Geoffrey Tassie battlefield of Camlann, King Arthur’s last battle in through the environs of Rough Tor, where the English Heritage, Bristol Institute of Archaeology, UCL tradition and also (more reliably) a skirmish between archaeological continuum of Cornwall, from [email protected] [email protected] Britons and Anglo-Saxons in the 9th century. prehistoric to medieval to industrial, could be

20 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 21 Starting out FINDS GROUP in archaeology After graduating from Reading with a degree IFA FINDS GROUP TRAINING DAYS in Archaeology I knew Nicky Powell that I wanted a career

Richard Constable in archaeology but in what aspects, and how should I start? Clearly I

As a student I was involved in three seasons at needed more practical The major A few years ago, Annette Hancocks (then a Finds including students, archaeologists and finds Silchester (p18) but wanted also to get training advantage with Group committee member), carried out a survey workers in varying stages of their careers as well as experience before feeling somewhere completely different. During July Silchester was the into the state of finds work. One important question providing continuing professional development. therefore I spent two weeks on a training dig in confident to apply for potential for regarded training; what training those who worked The answer to what other or further training is Cumbria. The excavation was run by North networking. Many with finds were getting and what they needed. The needed then shapes the forthcoming workshop and the jobs I saw in JIS. Pennines Archaeology (NPA) and was split into an of my peers answers were diverse, but the same specialisms the themes for successive years. ongoing investigation into industrial archaeology at became trainee kept cropping up: pottery, building materials and Nenthead and a dig at Dilston Castle. I started at supervisors and will no doubt work their way up to osteology. One of the first IFA Finds Group training The IFA Finds Group seminar this year will be Slags Dilston where, in addition to excavating remains of being supervisors. For students interested in sessions held was on human bone, which proved and wasters. Speakers including as Lynne Keys and the castle I was involved with filming down a working for organisations such as Oxford or Wessex popular and was over subscribed. Since then, the Roy Stephenson will talk about all aspects of possible drainage tunnel; exciting as no one had Archaeology, Silchester is a great place to make Finds Group has worked on a yearly programme of industrial residues, including metal working and gone quite that far before. At the mine we cleared those connections. However, I think if students only a seminar in the spring, accommodating the AGM, pottery production. It will be held at the London out an old smelting hut, drew plans, took levels and attend Silchester, they will get an unrealistic picture with a hands-on session or workshop Archaeological Archive and Research Centre, Eagle learned how to move a TBM. This work was of what the wider world of archaeology is really complementing it in the autumn. So far, human Wharf Road, London on Wednesday 4 June. The complemented with photography at the nearby like. My recommendation is to try Silchester, but to bone, metal finds, building material and organic seminar will be complemented by a hands on stone circle, finds washing and an introduction to complement that experience with other digs. finds have been covered. Other needs have proved workshop in the autumn. Further details from the digitising plans with CAD. We were taken on a so popular, notably building materials, that they Secretary Nicky Powell, and keep an eye on the IFA guided tour of the mine and to places of local As much as dig experience is necessary, working in have been held independently in other parts of the Finds Group webpage for full programme, joining interest such as Hadrian’s Wall, Penrith Castle and other areas is also important. After graduating in country. details and a form. Queen Anne charger. the stone circle of Long Meg and her daughters. The 2006, I started work for IFA as the part-time admin A London delftware work was involved but not too strenuous; certainly assistant. This has supplied excellent opportunities The skills of a wide range of professionals have been The Finds Group seminar dovetails with a London study day will be held not as hardas other digs I have been on for experience and training, notably observing tapped into and many have given freely of their delftware study day on Saturday 17 on 17 May subsequently, and the working party was only meetings of Council and Validation committee. The time. Curators from museums, university lecturers, May 2008 at Eagle Wharf Road, to about ten people, so there was little room for latter showed me what the IFA expect from a freelance specialists and archaeologists have all coincide with the launch of a slacking. membership application – good experience and a given papers and taken part in the workshops. Most new MoLAS publication on dedication to archaeology. The annual conferences often, the seminars and workshops have been held at excavated delft production I enjoyed the variety in the work and found the were great opportunities to meet other members the London Archaeological Archive and Research sites. This will be an introduction to local history useful. However, I feel and network. Getting involved behind the scenes is Centre (LAARC), where the huge archaeological opportunity to hear about that I needed more than a fortnight to get properly fun as well as useful. resource can be accessed. Here there is also space to new and recent finds and settled. The team members were mostly very lay out finds and examples. People giving papers visit MoL reserve welcoming and the accommodation was good, Overall, working for the IFA has been a great help and providing training come from all parts of the collections. Further details although we had to cook for ourselves. The two and has increased my career options. I now have a country. from the MoL box office weeks cost £228, including membership of the NPA better understanding of what is required to get (Tel: 0870 444 3850) for a year. The excavation was quite a change from ahead in the world of archaeology. At the end of each seminar, a feedback form is [email protected] Silchester and the training felt more comprehensive. offered and the comments collated and noted. I would recommend it for any students wishing to Richard Constable Comments generally range from good to excellent, Nicky Powell expand their skills base, though it would not be Part-time admin assistant suggesting the level of training is right. This is Museum of London Archaeology Service appropriate for more experienced diggers. [email protected] important, as the sessions are targeted at all levels, [email protected]

22 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 23 disciplines and professional institutes have to offer, BUILDING SKILLS: such as IHBC, RICS, and so on. English Heritage’s Professional Training in the Historic training in buildings archaeology and conservation Environment short courses at Oxford University Catharine Cavanagh Department of Continuing Education are designed in association with the Archaeology Training What is buildings analysis? Forum, IHBC and IFA. These are repeated annually of English Heritage and local authority policy and and include Architecture for Archaeologists and a guidance is available at www.helm.org.uk. There Building Survey Week. What skills do you need for the job? are books and websites on specific building types and materials, while lectures and conferences are a Accredited training How do you acquire them? good way of keeping up to date. The IFA For those interested in longer-term study, many ? conference, with a day on buildings archaeology, universities and other higher education institutes and IHBC’s annual school, are excellent CPD, as are have modules on the historic built environment, Every practitioner will have a different answer. those run by the Association of Industrial often as part of wider archaeological or landscape Whether your background is in archaeology, Archaeology, the Construction History Society and courses. York University and Edinburgh College of does IFA. Funding for postgraduate courses is engineering, architectural history or conservation, the Historic Farm Buildings Group Conference. Art run MAs in Conservation Studies, while Oxford available from the normal sources, such as AHRC, the emphasis should be on understanding buildings Brookes does MSc/PGDip/PGCert Historic and universities offer grants and studentships. in their physical context and the people associated IHBC has a requirement for each member to Conservation and Ironbridge an MA in Historic with them, not simply recording. Tasks range from undertake 50 hours of CPD over any 2-year period, Environment Conservation. Reading University has There are also opportunities for on-the-job training. physical repair and conservation to recording and and IFA is working towards it being a compulsory a distance-learning Postgraduate Diploma in IFA Workplace Learning Bursaries funded by the advice on heritage-led regeneration. These require requirement. Building Conservation based at The College of Heritage Lottery Fund offer industry-recognised skills ranging from photography to social history, to EstateStudents Management. studying Birkbeck offers standing workplace training built around the National management and legislation, so a multi-disciplinary Courses buildingfor Historic recording as part of an MA Archaeology Occupational Standards in Archaeological Practice team is often the best approach. The IHBC yearbook lists a wide variety of training course,Conservation with MSc the at opportunity to visit development IFA also administers the English Heritage courses and events, and the Archaeology Training sites,Oxford and Brookes a Standing Building Recording Week at Placements in Conservation (EPPIC) programme, in Ways of learning Forum’s website, www.torc.org.uk, though it has SyonUniversity House/Park. during a partnership with English Heritage and IHBC. There are different ways of learning. What about not been updated since 2004, gives an idea of fieldtrip to see Another bursary scheme by English Heritage, the work-shadow, finding a mentor or a job swap? Why courses available. The education section of British Inmasonry Scotland, restoration Edinburgh College of Art offers an MA National Trust, CADW, Construction-Skills and the not join a vernacular buildings group for practical Archaeological Jobs Resource www.bajr.org.uk inat TraditionalHereford Building Skills. These include crafts National Heritage Training Group has received HLF experience? Local authorities, amenity societies and website has a useful course finder. They’re also suchCathedral as brickwork, © English lime plaster, thatching and funding for about 80 bursaries over four years, the national heritage agencies provide written developing an online CPD log, which will dovetail ironwork,Heritage, for which there is a shortage of skilled providing NVQ Heritage Skills Level 3, advice on conservation issues. An extensive library with the IFA’s. It is also worth looking at what other practitioners.photograph: Patrick The Society for the Protection of www.buildingbursaries.org.uk AncientBooth Buildings (SPAB) has run repair courses since 1950, while Dundee University and West Dean IFA Buildings Archaeology Group College (with the Weald & Downland Open Air BAG is the biggest special-interest group in the IFA. Museum in Sussex) provide building conservation Our newsletter has updates on policy, book reviews, master classes. Short courses at York are designed to articles and case studies, and it lists courses and update professional skills in the conservation and conferences. It is also a means of publicising the management of a range of historic fabrics. The work you do, and being on the committee is good Conference on Training in Architectural experience! Conservation lists more courses www.cotac.org.uk. Rural skills are kept alive in many areas, for Articles, information and case studies for the example by the Devon Earth Building Association newsletter are always welcome. Alternatively, why and the Devon Rural Skills Trust. Essex County not help the IFA train others by offering training Council courses at Cressing Temple include placements or helping to set up seminars with repairing historic windows and timber framing. BAG? Conference papers are published on the And societies offer training on specific materials, Groups pages of the IFA website. Join BAG by such as the Scottish Lime Centre Trust. contacting [email protected]; it’s free to IFA members and £10 for non-members. Funding Employers should provide or pay for training, so Catherine Cavanagh ensure they are part of your training plan. IFA Buildings Archaeology Group Organising and speaking at conference sessions can [email protected] ensure free entry. Also, conference organisers often (with thanks to David Connnolly, David Divers, offer bursaries to students or hardship funds, as Geraint Franklin and Jon Lowe)

24 Spring 2008 Number 67 The Archaeologist 25 information can found on the HELM and Building Historic Environment Local Management in Context websites, www.bulding-in-context.org. Changes facing local authorities in the next three update Adina Gleeson years include (HELM) • reform of the planning system, as set out in the CLG Planning White Paper 2007 ince 2002 when TA last covered training Training Forum (p4), IHBC) and IFA. A list of • reform of the heritage protection system, as set and education (TA 43), one of the rising OUDCE courses is available on the HELM website. out in the DCMS Heritage Protection White stars has been the English Heritage Historic The website also contains the latest publications, Paper 2007 Environment Local Management (HELM) news and a database of case studies and local • increasing importance of place shaping and place programme. Established in 2004, HELM authority guidance. An interactive map of English making, particularly the strengthened role of the Sset out to provide local authorities with increased local authorities includes information on their Local Strategic Partnerships, Sustainable skill and confidence to manage change in the historic environment services. We are always Community Strategies and Local/Multi Area historic environment. Over 3000 people from local looking for ideas to improve the HELM website – Agreements authorities have received HELM training, more than contact [email protected]. • strong emphasis on local government service 200 publications on key policy issues have been improvement and efficiency, such as the new disseminated, there have been half a million visits ■ Champions Regional Improvement and Efficiency to the HELM website and the e-newsletter goes to Historic Environment Champions perform a vital Partnerships over 1000 people. Elected Members are Historic role in advocating the role of the historic • local and regional government restructuring, Environment Champions in 62% of local authorities. environment. English Heritage provides training such as new Unitaries and strengthening of and advice, but Champions are most effective when Regional Development Agencies ■ Diverse guidance they have a close relationship with their in-house HELM support assists local authority officers historic environment staff. If your authority is This changing policy context brings with it new (conservation staff and non-heritage professionals), without a champion and you would like further challenges for training. In particular HELM has as well as elected Members, and English Heritage is information please email champions@english- been identified in the DCMS Heritage Protection currently broadening the HELM audience to heritage.org.uk. White Paper (2007) as a key delivery agent for the include other decision makers. Guidance tailored new heritage protection system, and so English for distribution through HELM covers topics as ■ HELM in 2008 Heritage will implement a step change in the advice diverse as regeneration, housing, renewable energy, One primary objective is to develop support for and support provided to local authorities by farming historic landscapes, areas of outstanding implementation of the new heritage protection building on the current HELM programme. natural beauty, historic school buildings, transport system, as set out in Heritage protection for the 21st and streetscapes. In January 2008 policy documents century (DCMS: 2007). Core activities will continue, To keep up-to-date with the latest guidance, were published on mineral extraction and climate with events covering topics such as the new training and news visit www.helm.org.uk, where change in the historic environment. These free heritage protection system, ‘enabling development’, you can also register to receive the e-newsletter. For publications can be downloaded from new design in historic areas, master planning for comments and questions relating to HELM contact www.helm.org.uk, or hard copies ordered through the historic environment, historic area appraisal and [email protected] [email protected]. management, assessing and managing farm buildings, historic school buildings and managing Adina Gleeson ■ Courses change in churches. Dates and booking forms are HELM Project Manager HELM also offers free training for officers on available on the HELM website training section. 020 7973 3844 specific historic environment issues facing local [email protected] authorities. Last year’s programme included New policy, guidance and standards will include training on new design in historic areas, historic guidance on micro-renewable energy, an updated area appraisal and management, characterisation, version of ‘enabling development’ and Local Area assessing and managing farm buildings and Agreements. Case studies will include findings managing change in churches. Forthcoming training from pilot projects set up to test the proposed events and booking forms can be downloaded from heritage protection reforms. E-learning will be the training section of www.helm.org.uk, or piloted from March 2008, with the first module on HELM requested from HELMbookings@english- Championing the Historic Environment. Another two heritage.org.uk. Professional Training in the Historic are planned for officers on new design in a historic Environment short courses are also offered in context and planning related issues. A second partnership with Oxford University Department of National Champions Conference will provide Continuing Education. Intended for historic elected Members with an update on heritage environment practitioners and postgraduate protection reforms. There will also be a ‘refresh’ students, these courses are designed by English on the Building in Context toolkit for Design and Heritage in association with the Archaeology Historic Environment Champions. Further HELM home page

26 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 27 Training for the

Practical identification York Archaeological Trust (YAT) to PAS staff and PORTABLE Initial training is in the use of the PAS database, some finders. YAT also prepared a booklet of procedures for reporting potential treasure finds conservation advice for finders and web pages on and in financial and IT issues. Because most the PAS website (www.finds.org.uk/conservation/). artefacts reported to PAS are metal detected, the Training in artefact photography and image ANTIQUITIES initial emphasis in training lies on metallic artefacts. editing was provided by Stuart Laidlaw (Institute Finds Advisers (Sally Worrell, Sam Moorhead, of Archaeology). Specialists from English Heritage Helen Geake, John Naylor, Kevin Leahy and Geoff have spoken to the PAS on Battlefield Sally Worrell SCHEME Egan), curators at the British Museum and other Archaeology and artefacts (Paul Stamper and external specialists deliver a rolling programme of Glenn Foard) and a day organised by the Ancient training in identification and reporting of artefacts Monuments Laboratory, English Heritage, took and coins, and in conservation and photography. place on identification of slags and other Where possible, courses are tailored to small industrial waste (Justine Bayley and David The Portable Antiquities Scheme has covered the whole groups, with opportunities for practical Dungworth). of England and Wales since 2003 and currently employs identification and handling, and there is occasional 36 Finds Liaison Officers (FLOs). Their primary aim is to targeted one-to-one training. The Scheme’s internal We also want to enhance FLOs’ understanding of forum also facilitates peer learning, encouraging the analytical possibilities of artefacts they have record archaeological objects reported by members of FLOs with particular skills to share their expertise. recorded. Laboratories at the Institute of the public and publish these on the Scheme’s website Archaeology (UCL), British Museum, National (http://www.finds.org.uk/). Pottery and lithics Museum of Wales in Cardiff and Oxford University Frank Basford, Isle of Wight FLO (second In 2006 ceramic training for FLOs was conducted by have all undertaken analyses. Study days are being right), explaining the use of GPS to the Isle of Wight Metal Detecting club © Frank Basford pottery specialists around the country. Eleven planning to develop understanding of the CASE STUDY training days held in Salisbury, Taunton, London, possibilities offered by techniques such as XRF, Peter Reavill Palaeolithic to Post-Medieval Bedford, Norwich, Worcester and Lincoln drew on SEM and C14 dating. FLOs come from a wide range of heritage sector the expertise of twenty specialists to give a multi- backgrounds: many have worked as field period introduction to regional ceramic traditions, Passing on training When I started as an FLO I was warned that I faced a huge archaeologists in the contract sector, others in and guidance on identification, dating and FLOs and other PAS staff also pass on training to learning curve, familiarising myself with the multiple facets of museums or in local government archaeology. Some reporting. Several lithic training days were temporary assistants, work experience students and the job and getting a grip on most British artefact types. are recent graduates with undergraduate and conducted by Clive Bond, who has also written a volunteers in artefact recording. We encourage Training also had to take into account regional variation in postgraduate qualifications, though most have had comprehensive guide to flint identification and FLOs to work with school children as part of their both artefact types and distribution. Since the initial basic subsequent employment. Artefact expertise of reporting. outreach role and some are actively involved in introductory sessions (around ten days), training has been newly appointed FLOs is typically limited to their local Young Archaeology Clubs. Further individual materials or periods, a consequence of Personal safety training is delivered by the Suzy training to enhance this aspect of outreach is systematically reinforced and built upon by further courses the dearth of artefact-based university courses and Lamplugh Trust and conservation training by planned, drawing on the experience of the Scheme’s (usually 6-8 days a year) with contributions from academics, limited relevant work experience but, as FLOs, they Education Co-ordinator (Cei Paynton) and other numismatists, and artefact specialists. These courses have will have to identify an enormous range of artefacts FLOs. FLOs also advise and train finders on included detailed study of Roman finger rings and the mind of Palaeolithic to post-medieval date. National appropriate conservation and artefact care boggling complexity and minutiae of medieval coin studies. techniques, map-reading and the use of GPS Archaeology The training acts as a focus but it is still up to us to continue Week YAC event equipment. with our own research and reading. For me it is the Roman intaglio and at Lancaster, combination of organised learning and personal study which finger ring training 2007, with Dot This training must be amongst the most extensive with Martin Henig Broms, FLO of any archaeological organisation. The programme has seen the best and most effective results. at the British Museum Cumbria and is considered essential to the proper functioning of © S Worrell Lancashire the Scheme and to enhancing the opportunities for One of the strengths of the PAS is its training. This enables us CPD of FLOs, who are often at an early stage of © Wendi Terry, to make the best possible record of artefacts discovered by the their career. It is important to emphasise the YAC public, and to impart knowledge which improves finders’ continuous character of this training, but its scope is obviously dependent on funding. understanding too.

Sally Worrell Peter Reavill Finds Adviser (Prehistoric and Roman) Finds Liaison Officer for Herefordshire and Shropshire Institute of Archaeology, UCL [email protected] [email protected]

28 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 29 would interact, support and work professionally coordinators to help define policy, recruit England’s Past for Everyone together. One group recorded thirty farmsteads volunteers, manage activities, evaluate training within the project area, of which four were selected and deal with finances Catherine Cavanagh and Aretha George for detailed recording by Keystone historic • skills passed on by more experienced volunteers buildings consultants. English Heritage artists used help sustain future activities these surveys to produce cut-away, birds-eye-view • partnerships with local studies archives, reconstruction drawings showing how the early museums, societies, volunteer bureaux and farmsteads functioned. Another group recorded English Heritage public rights of way and green lanes, the original • access to experts to ensure quality control routes between farmsteads, villages and churches. • good publicity to recruit volunteers who reflect A third group compared the physical remains of the diversity of the local community deserted farmsteads and cottages with first edition • publishing results through websites, exhibitions, OS maps and census material. lectures, books and resources for schools (and celebrations - tea and cake never go amiss) Volunteers are now planning to go back and collect • measuring the quality of the volunteer experience oral histories from farmers, as the number of and aiming for quality photography to working farms in Exmoor continues to decline. A demonstrate this. paper on this project forms part of the Building Communities session at the IFA conference in “Farmstead recording is a great way to learn. I have seen into the Swansea in March. darkest, cobwebbiest corners and met numerous animals and fowl. I Studying deserted have seen new parts of Exmoor and met many new people whilst farmsteads at Burford: surveying buildings bringing much interest and enthusiasm to the project.” Prescott, Exmoor In Burford, some 180 buildings were examined by Sue, Exmoor © University of 36 volunteers working in small teams of mixed London experience, to encourage informal mentoring and support from peers. The success of the project was Based on ten projects to date we have produced a largely down to our partnership with the volunteer toolkit for future Victoria County History Oxfordshire Buildings Record (OBR), which projects. The work is reviewed at our annual Volunteers bring their own skills to an organisation, promotes interest in vernacular buildings and Learning Forum, and a programme of independent Heritage Lottery Funding such as IT, events organisation and local encourages the community to record them. The evaluation is ongoing. So far, we’ve found that of £3.4 million has enabled the Victoria County knowledge. They also act as user groups for Volunteer Group Leader, David Clarke, was training has boosted confidence and enabled History to undertake an ambitious programme of evaluating outputs such as websites. Our volunteers recruited from the OBR team, providing invaluable volunteers to apply their skills to their own projects. volunteer projects. Since 2005, over 200 volunteers range from professional historians to those with no expertise and on-the-spot training. The volunteers’ have been trained as part of the England’s Past for experience of history or archaeology, but all have work fed into a gazetteer and chapters on Catherine Cavanagh Everyone project, and volunteers in ten counties found that skills gained from other professions, as architectural history to be published in April 2008. Project Manager, Victoria County History from Cornwall to County Durham are helping to well as enthusiasm for the subject, are invaluable. Enthusiastic volunteers are still studying wills and [email protected] research their local history. The results are Volunteers are good ambassadors for a project, not probate even though the project has been Aretha George published as paperbacks, schools resources, only helping to spread the word but gaining access completed. Education and Skills Manager, exhibitions and via an online, interactive database to people and places that may be wary of Victoria County History organisations such as local authorities. So it is www.ExploreEnglandsPast.org.uk. “I love old buildings and like to unravel the sequence of alterations, [email protected] important that they are confident in the project think abut the people who made the changes and why.” “I have been fascinated working with tithe maps and early they’re working on. Heather, Oxfordshire censuses. It has been awesome to touch, smell and see the old papers and hand written scripts.” Two very different projects illustrate approaches to training in archaeological fieldwork and some of the Effective training Juliet, Exmoor lessons we have learnt. Training has ranged from basic Latin to oral history Training by James Almost any project can incorporate training for interviewing and transcribing. In Exmoor, much of Davies, English volunteers, but it needs to be embedded into the Exmoor: recording a threatened landscape the training was to support accurate recording and Heritage photographer organisation’s policy so that community Volunteers trained in photography, record office identification of interesting features, whilst in in Oxfordshire involvement is properly planned from the outset. use, understanding the landscape and building Oxfordshire the focus was on reading wills and © University of One benefit is that partnerships are developed with survey have created a database of farm buildings on probates, building survey, palaeography and London those who do not usually fund archaeology, but the Exmoor. This is becoming a key resource in the photography. relationship has to be reciprocal. Training helps conservation of the National Park’s built ensure high-quality research and means volunteers environment. We have learnt that the following are key to get something in return for their work. A good effective training for volunteers training programme can also provide continuing Volunteers completed skills assessment forms, professional development for staff. allowing three task groups to be selected which • a dedicated skills manager and project-specific

30 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 31 Volunteering opportunities One of YAC’s more ambitious projects was to rebuild Stonehenge half-size using wood, with the Young cardboard and the help of children at English Heritage’s Festival of History in 2005. Here, Archaeologists’ Club YAC volunteers relax with TV archaeologist YAC Leaders Julian Richards after the completion of our practising monument. © YAC archaeological skills Nicky Milsted, YAC Communications Officer at a training day held in conjunction with York The Young Archaeologists’ Club, which is part of CBA, is Archaeological the only nationwide club for young people aged 8–16 Trust. © YAC YAC works with archaeological organisations and research interested in archaeology. It caters for around 3000 young projects to provide real excavation experience for members. This YAC member is digging alongside volunteers for the people, has a network of more than seventy branches – Bamburgh Research Project at Bamburgh Castle. © YAC and it needs volunteers with archaeological experience to continue this exceptional form of ‘training’ for our Support and training All new leaders complete an application form and youngest generation. supply two referees. Police records checks will also YAC be carried out. YAC’s Network and Events Officer, Wendi Terry, responsible for co-ordination, supervision and training of volunteers, is always ready with advice and support, before and after Membership includes a quarterly magazine, Young archaeological holidays. Each branch is run by a applications. Leaders of new branches receive the Archaeologist, with news, activities, competitions, team of volunteers, and these decide upon their YAC Leaders’ Handbook, which outlines best behind-the-scenes reports from Time Team, world programme. The Branch Leader is responsible for practice for running a YAC Branch, including child archaeology features, and book reviews and articles the set up and overall management of the branch protection, activity programme planning, running by members. UK members receive a YAC Pass, and ensures the safe running and general well being events, insurance and safety. A concise version is which provides free entry or discounts at of members. Assistant Leaders support the Branch available to holiday leaders. archaeological and historical museums and Leader and may take on a specific role such as properties. YAC organises the annual Young treasurer or membership secretary. Helpers ensure New branches are visited by Wendi prior to Archaeologist of the Year Award and runs popular that the activity sessions run smoothly, safely and starting monthly meetings, and YAC staff visit Volunteering with YAC is a superb way of being involved with the archaeological holidays. Its branches, which spread are fun but are not asked to take direct branches regularly once they are up and running. future of archaeology, as two of our Leaders testify: from Cornwall to Orkney, meet once a month and responsibility for the members. Holidays are run by Volunteer development is taken very seriously and offer activities such as excavation, fieldwalking, a team of volunteers, often with staff from YAC HQ support is given through a Leaders’ email network, “The highs have included examining environmental finds and soil learning archaeological techniques, site visits, also present. Being a volunteer on these popular enabling volunteers to swap ideas and experiences. samples which involved getting exceedingly wet; fieldwalking ancient craft activities, talks and games. holidays is an ideal way to get involved without a YAC also provides archaeological skills training, mostly when the sun shone, but occasionally in the rain (more regular monthly commitment. specific training for holiday leaders, and an annual wet); and visiting historic and prehistoric sites.“ Volunteer opportunities Leaders’ weekend, which is also a fantastic social YAC currently has around 400 volunteers, who run Volunteers come from different social, cultural and event. A special YAC Leaders’ section of our “All the leaders are volunteers with one abiding passion – to share local branches and supervise residential economic backgrounds, including professional website provides useful documents and their knowledge and expertise, and we give members the archaeology. The diverse mixture gives the Club a downloadable activity ideas. Training is given in opportunity to find out about the archaeological aspects of both wide range of skills and experiences. We are always child protection, risk assessments, minibus driving commonplace and unusual places.” looking for more enthusiastic people to get involved and first aid. and would love to welcome more members of IFA, VM, Leicestershire Branch whether joining an existing branch or holiday For more information about volunteering leadership team or opening a new branch. opportunities with the Young Archaeologists’ YAC“I have recently become a volunteer in the North Downs Branch Club, contact Wendi Terry, YAC Network and of YAC. My team is really great, enthusiastic and hard working. Events Officer, YAC, St Mary’s House, 66 Bootham, Seeing the kids learning and enjoying the archaeology and history York YO30 7AZ, Tel 01904 671417, really gives me a huge buzz. This is such a fantastic opportunity to Two YAC members work together to plan a feature at [email protected]. Please also visit our capture the imaginations of a new generation who will be Colvend in Dumfries and Galloway, an excavation run by website at: www.britarch.ac.uk/yac responsible for looking after our future heritage.” Stewartry Archaeological Trust. YAC is proud to operate in SE, North Downs branch partnership with a number of archaeological and heritage Nicky Milsted organisations across the UK. © YAC YAC Communications Officer

32 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 33 Buried under Bidford:

historic environment records Comic extremely popular and were attended by all ages. It has always been difficult to fit archaeology into It was extremely rewarding to see over twenty and a community project the National Curriculum, to identify and reach families taking part. suitable school contacts and to work within the restrictions of the school timetable. We decided that Fieldwork events proved ideal in educating the Christina Evans it was time to use the HER resources in a novel public and encouraging engagement. Participants diverse audiences and used formats that encourage fashion – an archaeological comic. Working with learnt a new set of skills, whilst HER staff explained The staff of Warwickshire Historic Environment Record (HER) participation. Simple conventions maybe, but the the company inHeritage, we used archaeological what the HER holds, the importance of reporting sites found during quarrying around Bidford to and recording finds and how people can understand has worked for twelve years to develop interesting outreach evidence was that, in Warwickshire at least, we had not always followed them. We now have a strategy create a comic for primary school children. To their historic environment. At the same time, staff events and activities. Notable successes include our online with guidance to staff on running successful events. meet educational and archaeological criteria and learned what community groups value in their local HER (http://timetrail.co.uk), but awareness amongst the complement an area of key stage 2, the comic historic environment and how to better meet their Communities, minerals and archaeology focused on the Roman period. To reinforce the needs. Visitor numbers to HER offices and online general public remains low. Our task, with support from the Buried Under Bidford, a one-year ALSF funded comic’s learning goals, children from Bidford services have increased significantly as a result. English Heritage Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund project based around a village in south Primary School took part in a Roman day led by (ALSF), has been to improve this situation through work with Warwickshire, was the first to be delivered using education specialists History off the Page, when they The next step is to build on this success elsewhere these guidelines. The Bidford community is affected became Romans and archaeologists for the day. in Warwickshire whilst developing rapport with specific communities and individuals, involving them in the by sand and gravel extraction and has strong views The comic itself has proved popular not just with those who have already participated. discovery of Warwickshire’s heritage. about the minerals planning process. HER staff were children but with previously uninterested adults. thought well suited to interact with the community Its visual nature has enabled staff to mount an For further information about the Warwickshire and to facilitate discussions about the mineral exhibition linking the objects and sites mentioned HER’s outreach projects please contact planning process, and an outreach programme was within the comic’s story. Christina Evans (below), to view the In 2006, Extracting Warwickshire’s Past was a project designed. Its particular aims included increasing the Warwickshire Local Studies Toolkit or learn with public events and practical exercises from public profile of the HER and its resources, finding The exhibition and comic have been hugely more about the archaeology of which a strategy for delivering exciting, meaningful ways to use it within children’s education and beneficial for the HER in gaining contacts in Warwickshire visit http://timetrail.co.uk, HER outreach was created. This was built around increasing the quantity and quality of information schools, disseminating information to school and for further information about the principles of appreciating and understanding held. children and engaging new audiences. inHeritage and History off the page visit http://www.inheritage.co.uk and Documentary research http://www.historyoffthepage.co.uk Image from the To meet people’s increasing interest in the history of Buried under their local area we were keen to run documentary Christina Evans Bidford comic. research training sessions. It was anticipated that 01926 418023 Illustration by the resulting research could bridge gaps in the Marvin Harding quality and quantity of HER information, especially [email protected] on post-medieval and modern landscapes. Sessions were built around Warwickshire Local Studies Toolkit, created by the HER in 2006 as part of the Extracting Warwickshire’s Past project and available online. The sessions led participants through the basics of documentary research and provided them with skills to investigate local history further. Already results are positive, with participants submitting information to the HER about 19th-century Bidford.

Fieldwork Among the public there is also a strong desire to be involved in archaeological fieldwork. ALSF funding has allowed the HER to organise several fieldwalking training sessions to meet this need. As part of the Bidford project, fields near the village were investigated over three weekends and participants were taught how to undertake a fieldwalking survey and deal with the subsequent finds processing. As expected, these events proved Encouraging use of the HER

34 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 35 Teaching archaeology:

changing patterns in UK Higher Education Divergent missions and novel routeways Timothy Darvill Axiomatic within the terms of the Benchmark is the Director of the Centre for Archaeology, Anthropology and Heritage Timothy Darvill need for breadth as well as depth. Individual School of Conservation Sciences universities are increasingly defining distinctive Bournemouth University missions, and attaining these will involve Fern Barrow Higher education in the UK has never suffered so across the sector. Attention was focused both on sharpening the focus of particular courses. Courses Poole. Dorset BH12 5BB many conflicting and competing pressures and institutional arrangements and subject provision. The will be located at different points within a triangle [email protected] interests. Centre stage is the success in raising former is achieved through Institutional Audits, the drawn between the complementary archaeologies of participation rates, which have shot from 10% of latter through peer review. Initially the work of the humanities, sciences, and professional practice. QAA [Quality Assurance Agency]. 2007. post A-level school leavers in higher education in individual departments was scrutinised through the There will be differences in attention paid to the key Subject benchmark statement: Archaeology 2007. Gloucester: Quality 1980 to around 43% in 2003-04, with a target of 50% Teaching Quality Assessment, later known as Subject curriculum areas: knowledge of the human past as Assurance Agency 166 02/07 by 2010. In 1996-97 4189 students enrolled on Review. All archaeology departments were subject to currently understood; the theory, historical www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/honours/archaeology.asp> undergraduate archaeology programmes in the UK; this in 2000–02, and most achieved a score of 22 or development, and socio-political context of the by 2004-05 this had risen by 75% to 7315. But it has more out of 24, allowing them to be considered discipline; and the practice and delivery of a cost. Courses have become increasingly ‘unitised’, ‘excellent’. One criticism of the Subject Review was archaeological investigations and other research with individual modules representing comparable that it focused on process rather than content, a activities in the field, laboratory, archive and office. teaching time, self-directed study time and shortcoming QAA attempted to rectify through Billown, Isle of Man. Excavating features as assessment. Curriculum Frameworks have been Subject Benchmarks to inform itself, universities, Students considering going to university need to part of Bournemouth University Fieldschool developed to facilitate comparison and movement programme designers, and potential students what understand the differences between courses, so between courses and between institutions, and to an undergraduate programme might cover. most departments now run taster-days and better define levels of study. On a European scale introductions. Exploiting diversity through unitised these frameworks will help harmonise the content, curriculum frameworks also means that the structure, and duration of degree programmes Subject Even before the Subject employability agenda can be addressed. Students under the Bologna Process launched in 1999, and Benchmark Review was complete the wanting a career in archaeology can select units allow an EU-wide Credit Transfer Scheme. Subject Committee for appropriate to their ambitions, while those pursuing Archaeology (SCFA) was asked by QAA to develop a career elsewhere can choose a different route. The As higher proportions of the working population a subject benchmark statement for undergraduate mapping of unit content onto the National have HE qualifications the issue of employability courses. This was done by a sub-committee chaired Occupational Standards will provide a useful base- becomes paramount. Old tensions between courses by Professor Graeme Barker, and after considerable map on which to chart the value of programmes to that prepare students for careers in particular consultation the statement was published in 2000. It those wishing to work in particular fields. However, professions and courses that provide general has been used widely in the development, validation, it is also important to recognise the detailed education with wide application have never been and review of new units and programmes. contribution that degree courses make to other areas far from the surface. Accepting that becoming a of academic and intellectual development. competent practitioner involves a combination of In 2005 SCFA was asked by QAA to update the education, training, and experience it is relevant to statement in light of changes within the discipline At Bournemouth we have fashioned a series of ask how much of each can realistically be delivered and related professional practice. A sub-committee defined routes as coherent programmes variously within a three or four year course. The answer is not chaired by the author undertook the review, privileging knowledge sets (Prehistoric much, and the imperative is to focus on education, drawing on views and ideas provided by Archaeology; Roman Archaeology), theory and with less training and experience. Even so, a lot has archaeology departments across the UK, and IFA. socio-political context (Archaeology; Heritage Billown, Isle of Man. to be packed into a short time, and so quality in The revised statement was published in January Conservation), or practice (Field Archaeology; Environmental terms of courses and their delivery has increasingly 2007 (QAA 2007) and contained four main changes: Marine Archaeology; Archaeology and Forensic sampling as part of come under the spotlight. increased recognition of archaeological sciences; Science). Achieving a balance between curriculum Bournemouth more attention to the ethical, professional, and legal areas is important, as, to paraphrase Kant, ‘Theory University codes that bear on the practice of archaeology; without practice is hollow, but practice without Fieldschool Quality Concern for quality greater emphasis on post-excavation analysis and theory is blind’. Importantly, each also makes a Assurance assurance shifted up a gear reporting; and better recognition of archives as contribution to the three strands of employability – in 1997 when government primary sources, with collections-based, record- education, training, and experience – in a way that created the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and based, and artefact-based studies particularly can be developed post-graduation by employers Billown, Isle of Man. Recording finds as part charged it with setting and maintaining standards highlighted. and the professional institute. of Bournemouth University Fieldschool

36 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 37 Teach archaeology, Schools & Further Education: engaging with the historic environment not (just) history John Collis Don Henson

Though original documents are now available on We all know that archaeology and the historic environment are great educational resources. the Web, archaeology offers more tangible evidence Archaeology is a particularly good subject for engaging young people in the application of of even our recent history – the cities, towns and Recent discussions about the narrow villages we live in, industries and institutions we knowledge and skills to practical, real-world situations, and the place of the historic environment range of the history curriculum (too much work in, roads we walk down, and fields we in formal education is a key underpinning for public involvement with physical heritage. cultivate. Archaeologists are trained to study and Tudors and the Second World War) suggest explain all these. it is time for a fundamental rethink about Power of Place (English Heritage 2000) recommended how history is taught in schools. Our universities produce over a thousand that the historic environment should be placed at archaeology students a year, and archaeology has the heart of education. It also proposed that there Unfortunately, when the national curricula already proved a good subject for those who want a should be greater public engagement, that barriers were written, only a narrow spectrum of general degree, with transferable skills such as to access should be removed and that greater those who deal with human history was ‘team work’, field and laboratory work, statistics, support should be given to the voluntary heritage and scientific training, as well as the traditional sector. These recommendations were reinforced by consulted, with archaeologists, who have a skills of the historian (critical analysis of sources, The Historic Environment: a force for our future (DCMS wider view, excluded. The result is that and an ability to present them as essays). 2001), which promised increased opportunities in English higher and further education for people children are taught a limited range of the A survey of Sheffield Archaeology graduates in the with an interest in the historic environment, and history of humanity, both in time and space. early 1990s showed about a third had gone into also recognised the need to provide skills training teaching, but with the advent of the National for the heritage sector. There has been some progress Curriculum they are excluded from this career. towards realising these recommendations and action Even the GCSE in archaeology was closed down, points, but not all recent changes to the education I must be clear that I do not mean archaeology in a although we do now have a new GCSE History system have been of benefit for archaeology or have 'Practising maths is just part of the experience when learning to record archaeological sites. narrow sense – digging holes to solve some local Pilot that mixes academic history with archaeology helped to further historic environment education, Photograph: Don Henson' question; rather I am talking about the span of and heritage management (and which OFSTED and some are a distinct threat to its continuing human achievement: our origins and colonisation of would like to see extended to AS/A level). Still, viability. the planet; beginnings of tool making; development despite a recent campaign to make PGCE courses skills. Archaeology is not included as a relevant available to archaeology graduates, including of agriculture; origins of urbanisation, of metallurgy, At school vocational qualification by most FE colleges. The of writing; indeed all the features that produced the exposure on the Today programme with Tony • switch in funding is already leading to the closure great ‘civilisations’ of the past. Nor am I arguing Robinson and Don Henson of CBA, the situation The curriculum at key stage 3 (11-14 year-olds) in of archaeology courses (DfES figures published in that the written history of the British Isles should has only marginally improved, despite archaeology England has been radically revised, slimming down 2006 showed an overall decline of 600,000 adults no not be studied, but it needs a wider context. It is graduates being better trained for teaching than the content to allow teachers greater flexibility. longer enrolling on all FE courses). Where courses time to move on from an obsession with the historians. It is time to rethink the teaching of Current schemes published by the Qualifications continue, students may be charged the full Armada and our various wars and teach history history, and not simply by historians; a united front and Curriculum Authority have little in the way of economic cost, making such courses far less relevant to all our citizens, whatever their origin. of archaeologists and ancient, medieval and modern archaeological or historic environment content. attractive. For some students, the AS/A level is a Given continued immigration, this should be a historians will influence government far more than way into full-time education after many years away, the present disjointed efforts. history we all share, not something narrowly Further Education and the first stepping stone towards university British. • entry and a career in the archaeology profession. We should be producing informed ‘citizens of the Archaeology had a good presence in education at 14 world’ not ‘Little Britons’. Archaeology has the advantage over traditional to 19. Unfortunately, the AQA awarding body Continuing Education document-based history in its wide range of abolished its GCSE in archaeology from 2006. AS • techniques, which blurs distinctions between the John Collis and A level still exist and attract around 2000 Universities have a long history (since the Arts, Social Sciences and Pure Sciences and 9 Clifford Road students a year, a mix of older people as well as 18 pioneering work of WG Hoskins in the 1930s) of encompasses scientific techniques, laboratory Sheffield S11 9AQ year-olds. Unfortunately, the Learning and Skills providing archaeology courses for the general analysis, problems of social organisation, and Tel: 0114 258 6320 Councils now target their funding at 16-19 year-olds public, through what used to be called extra-mural environmental and geographical approaches. [email protected] and the delivery of economically relevant vocational education. Many courses led to the creation of local

38 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 39 heritage societies, and were a forum where research into key stage 3, AS/A level and professional support was given to the voluntary continuing education. Research will cover AN INTRODUCTION TO RISK MANAGEMENT sector. However, with a tightening of funding rules, a lack of inclusion of part-time archaeology within • current use of archaeology by teachers at key Nick Waloff higher education research assessment funding, and stage 3, especially the learning outcomes of greater emphasis on vocational training, universities working with the historic environment, to have been re-assessing their continuing education develop guidance and schemes of work for provision. A survey by CBA in 2004 looked at the QCA to support the new KS3 curriculum changes in provision over the previous five years, and the trend over the next year into 2006. In 1999, • the take up of AS/A level archaeology; who A one-day course has been organised by Waloff 9.00am Coffee and registration there were over 1300 courses across the UK in studies it and why, leading to a marketing plan Associates Ltd in association with IFA to introduce 9.30am Introductions and housekeeping aspects of past material culture and the historic to attract more colleges and schools to offer it heritage and archaeological organisation managers 9.45am Overview (Nick Waloff) environment, which was projected to fall to just to concepts of risk management in the context of a why is risk management so important for your organisation? over 1000 by 2006. There was also a projected 26% • the social and perhaps economic value of adult volatile and uncertain future. It will provide an current risk perspectives decline in universities offering archaeology through continuing education courses in archaeology, to overview of key techniques and approaches which ‘risk culture’ and risk appetite continuing education, and of 49% in locations help stem the haemorrhaging of archaeology can be used to identify, assess and evaluate risk. categorising risks where courses were held. part-time courses for adults, Participants will be helped to develop risk linkages between strategic and operational risk management techniques appropriate to their 10.30am Coffee/tea These three areas of education enable a greater part Project officers Andy Holland (key stage 3 and business, based on outcomes of the risk appraisal 10.45am Risk Mapping of the population to understand the historic AS/A level) and Richard Lee (continuing education) process. It will explore how risk management can what do you need to know – internally and externally? environment and gather support for the work of will be happy to hear from any archaeologists improve relationships with existing clients and how can you best ‘map’ risk? archaeologists. They provide entry points for a actively engaged in work with schools, AS/ A level secure new ones. The course is aimed at directors how do you validate your risk map? lifelong engagement with the historic environment, students or adult education. and senior managers, strategic decision-takers and 11.20am Risk Appraisal widening the pool of researchers and fieldworkers policy makers, and board members, of heritage and process of risk appraisal far beyond the profession. • Opportunities archaeological organisations. methods for assessing risk scoring and prioritising options • Research CBA, through Heritage Link, is involved in a major Course tutors are Nicholas Waloff MA BPhil FRSA risk registers DCMS initiative to support built environment and Robert Hill MRICS MIFA of Waloff Associates 11.50am Risk Management Engaging with the Historic Environment is a CBA education, Engaging Places. CBA is also involved Ltd. Both have many years’ experience across UK mitigating or eliminating risk? project, funded by English Heritage to undertake through Heritage Link in the Learning Outside the sectors in business planning and management, and developing risk management policies Classroom Manifesto, supported by the Department in developing business-related training and setting rates of return and optimum risk for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). A new development courses for the heritage sector. The securing internal management commitment AS/A level in archaeology will be offered by the course will be interactive, and will use case studies 12.30pm Risk Monitoring/Evaluation

Practical skills fit into the National Curriculum and can be AQA Awarding Body from 2009, and CBA will be in from heritage/archaeology and other sectors of the monitoring procedures learned outside the class room. Photograph: Don Henson a good position to make sure that this is taken up UK economy. information requirements and use by all staff by schools and colleges through the project measuring effectiveness research. Efforts to maintain the role of adult links to corporate governance education in lifelong learning for people of all ages 1.00pm Lunch are being led by NIACE (The National Institute of 2.00pm Resourcing issues Courses will be held at Adult Continuing Education) through a report on identifying and allocating tasks and resources the social and economic benefits of lifelong learning 1 April 2008 Royal Institution of Chartered real cost implications – of managing and not managing risk! (NIACE 2006) and through an independent Surveyors London enhancing your relationships with clients and stakeholders commission of inquiry. CBA’s work will feed into 2 April 2008 University of Birmingham 2.30pm Implementation the work of this commission and make sure that the 9 April 2008 University of York putting your ideas into effect importance of adult learning in archaeology is using risk management systems highlighted. Cost (payable in advance, including lunch): risk control, crystallisation, risk adjustment and recovery £282.00 (inc. VAT) 3.15pm Tea Many of you will be hearing from us again over the 3.30pm Embedding risk in your business plan and planning processes next two years as we seek to make sure that For further details see IFA website or contact building risk assessment outcomes into your business plan archaeology has the place in education that it Nick Waloff, Managing Director, reviewing potential impacts of risk crystallisation deserves, and that people have the opportunities to Waloff Associates Ltd, 16 Mount Eaton Court, projections and forecasting engage with archaeology that they deserve. Mount Avenue, Ealing, London W5 2RF 4.15pm The secrets of success key features of successful risk management Don Henson [email protected] ten golden rules for stifling initiative CBA, Head of Education and Outreach (DDL 020-8998-3364 mob: 07710-225638) preparing yourself St Mary’s House, 66 Bootham 4.45pm Conclusions and feedback York, YO30 7BZ 5.00pm Close

40 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 41 Archaeology THE new BRITISH PPG revisions In England IFA and ALGAO have met with the political Department of Communities and Local Government ARCHAEOLOGICAL AWARDS to discuss the vulnerable status of local authority archaeological services. The spectre of a single Alison Taylor advocacy planning policy covering everything (raised during earlier stages of planning reform) has receded, & though it is evident that not all the current PPGs Peter Hinton and Alison Taylor The British Archaeological Awards, first and PPSs will survive. Probably there may be about eight policies: one of them may be dedicated to the launched in 1976, became the most prestigious The Archaeology Forum historic environment and will encapsulate the key as well as most wide ranging archaeological The main medium for IFA’s advocacy and lobbying principles of PPGs 15 and 16, with supplementary is The Archaeology Forum (TAF). Through this, guidance in a planning circular. It seems, therefore, awards in Britain, growing to fourteen categories independent national archaeological bodies discuss that it could be a couple of years before we see long- and incorporating every aspect of British matters of common concern. The Forum, convened sought reforms to the PPGs to encourage public archaeology. A dedicated committee ran the General criteria for these awards are by IFA, aims to establish shared positions, a participation, better dissemination of results and to ■ Contribution to knowledge common vision of joint needs and to promote clear restrict some works to accredited organisations and Awards on a biennial basis until 2006. ■ Strong research focus and consistent messages on archaeological policy in individuals; but now is the time to step up the ■ Commitment to recognised professional the historic environment sector. It is a UK-wide lobbying. We’ve also made it clear to government standards and ethics partnership that works alongside Heritage Link that the PPGs bring in about £140m of private sector But, as archaeology itself grew in ways that could ■ Involvement of the local community, including (England), the Built Environment Forum Scotland funding annually (five-year old figures: the latest not be envisaged thirty years ago, it was realised at new audiences (BEFS), Wales Environment Link (WEL) and Profiling the profession should allow an updated that time that the Awards needed an overhaul to fit ■ Effective dissemination and presentation, Northern Ireland Archaeology Forum (NIAF), and is estimate), and that we cannot afford any weakening them for the modern world. In particular, as IFA including commitment to publication and concerned with understanding, protection and of present provision. members will be well aware, they need to take on archiving appreciation of the historic environment. board the work of professional archaeologists as ■ Innovation and originality of approach, Finally, it’s quango-burning time in Scotland again. well as increased public interest and involvement, methodology and presentation Draft Heritage Protection Bill for England and Wales First Minister Alex Salmond has announced plans to and more varied means for both gaining and At TAF’s February meeting in Cardiff it was agreed reduce Scotland’s 199 national public bodies by 25%. disseminating knowledge in a technological age. Detailed criteria for each award are on that key priorities in 2008 include encouraging The Historic Environment Advisory Council for Gill Andrews was asked to conduct a thorough www.britarch.ac.uk/awards. political support for the Heritage Protection Bill in Scotland is to be thrown into the new conflagration review, and came up with a new constitution, England and Wales and ensuring adequate guidance – Historic Scotland can provide ministers with all streamlined categories of awards with formal What is now important is that that all archaeologists on archaeology in the planning process. The draft the advice they need – and RCAHMS (now an criteria attached, an improved system for running and archaeological organisations consider whether Heritage Protection Bill is promised for late March RAO), the National Archives of Scotland and judging panels, and a more open system of any of their projects are candidates for the various or early April, so we do not yet know if we will Historic Scotland have been instructed to rationalise organising the whole programme in accordance Awards (which bring good publicity, for runners need to work with parliamentarians to seek their functions – reprieve again from recurrent with requirements of Charity Commissioners. After up as well as winners), so that in 2008 we can truly improvements through pre-legislative scrutiny, or if government desires for HS-RCAHMS merger that much debate and refinement, revisions were award the very best. our support for the Bill must be conditional. It is has little sectoral support. TAF and IFA Scottish formally approved in October 2007. anticipated the draft Bill – high-level enabling Group will need to work with BEFS as the Entries should describe the project in no more legislation – will be accompanied by ‘statutory implications emerge. The Chair is Prof David Breeze, I am the Secretary, than 1000 words, demonstrating how they fulfil guidance’. Protocol requires that both Bill and Christopher Catling is Treasurer, and Sarah Howell the criteria and including contact details for the guidance are drafted by DCMS, Welsh Assembly TAF members are the Administrator. project. Entries should be sent as email and hard Government and English Heritage without input Association of Local Government Archaeological copy to Sarah Howell, Administrator for BAA, from IFA or other Forum members, so we do expect Officers UK The awards are currently for c/o Robert Kiln Charitable Trust, 15a Bull Plain, there will be some opportunities for improvement. Council for British Archaeology ■ Best Archaeological Project HERTFORD, SG14 1DX, 01992 554962, Institute of Conservation ■ Best Independent or Amateur Archaeological [email protected], by 31 May 2008. But not for Scotland Institute of Field Archaeologists Project The Awards ceremony will be held at the British Scottish minister for Minister for Europe, External Institute of Historic Building Conservation ■ Best Archaeological Book Museum, Monday 10 November 2008. Affairs and Culture, Linda Fabiani has announced National Trust ■ Best Scholarly Archaeological Book that the Scottish Government does not intend to National Trust for Scotland ■ Best Archaeological TV/Radio Programme For further details contact tackle problems with similar heritage protection Rescue: the British Archaeological Trust ■ Best Archaeological Discovery [email protected], or Sarah Howell legislative reform, but has instructed Historic Society of Antiquaries of London ■ Best Archaeological Innovation (above), or see the BAA website, Scotland to work through the Scottish Historic Society of Antiquaries of Scotland ■ Best ICT Project www.britarch.ac.uk/awards. Environment Policy process and the concordat with Standing Conference of Archaeological Unit ■ Lifetime Achievement in Archaeology Scottish local authorities which ensures adequate Managers ■ Young Archaeologist of the Year Alison Taylor provision on local historic environment services. Society of Museum Archaeologists

42 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 43 The All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group Conflicts) Bill, published this January, which will APPAG met in January to give opinions and allow government to ratify the Hague Convention. W (h)ither the profession recommendations on archaeological issues. The This Convention, which originated in 1954 in most urgent was the Portable Antiquities Scheme, response to massive destruction during the second ? where freezing of funds and a proposed change in world war but which the UK (and US) did not sign, Kenneth Aitchison responsibility from the British Museum to the gained support in response to destruction and a response Museums, Libraries and Archives Council will result looting of archaeological sites and museums in Iraq. in losses of 4-5 key posts on 31 March. MPs’ Apart from responsibilities abroad, the UK will be postbags have been bulging with objections to the designating its own sites for protection. These will cuts and to the move away from the British include all scheduled archaeological sites, as the  Museum, and Tim Loughton MP has requested a Heritage Bill will equate them with Grade I listed Westminster Debate. His petition for an Early Day buildings in new lists, and also ‘designated wrecks’. Michael Heaton’s article in TA 66 is, without doubt, provocative. What it Motion has already been signed by 161 MPs, and made me feel particularly aware is that IFA has a problem communicating there is an online petition http://petitions.pm. MPs also agreed to give whatever help was needed with its members. My response to so many of the points he made was to think gov.uk/PAS-Funding/ for anyone else who wishes to support proper archaeological excavation of to give their support to PAS. human remains after recent changes in advice from – but we are doing that! Why is he being so deliberately contrary? Surely he the new Ministry of Justice, which exposed knows that! But then – if even as long standing an IFA Member as Mike, who Good news is the Draft Cultural Property (Armed archaeologists to potential legal challenges. is also a recent member of the Committee on Working Practices in Archaeology, is unaware of the work being done, then clearly we have a problem telling the membership and stakeholders what it is that we are doing Useful links for consultations and Parliamentary work in progress include to further the profession of archaeology. Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland’ reports on heritage legislation and local government www.heacs.org.uk/documents/2008/minresp1.pdf and www.heacs.org.uk/documents/2008/minresp2.pdf. In terms of training and skills, we have developed Heritage protection and planning reform in England and Wales - analysis of consultation responses to the Heritage White and launched the NVQ in Archaeological Practice Paper for England and are actively working with universities to help http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Publications/archive_2007/hp21century_consresponsesnov07.htm them match their course content to the vocational qualification. We are supporting and delivering and for Wales year-long bursary funded placements, which are and pension contribution requirements, which IFA http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/upload/resourcepool/Heritage%20Protection%20Consultation%20summary5506.htm being extraordinarily well received by participants, Registered Archaeological Organisations have to progress with the Draft Marine Bill in Westminster host organisations and the participants’ subsequent meet and (through the democratic will of the http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/marine/uk/policy/marine-bill/index.htm employers (p6–9) – I think these are the best thing membership) we have changed rule 5.5 of the Code that IFA has ever done. of conduct so that anyone (individual members, not Margaret Hodge’s speech to Heritage Link’s Heritage Day just registered organisations) employing http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Minister_Speeches/margaret_hodge/ In terms of developing a closer relationship with the archaeologists has to give reasonable consideration James Purnell’s speech at the Heritage Counts launch, Greenwich, construction industry we have been contributing to to these requirements . http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Minister_Speeches/James_Purnell/heritage_counts.htm the CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and Information Association) Managing Archaeological And that’s just the first step. Benchmarking of Hague Convention Risk in Construction project, we are on the ICE’s Site archaeological salaries against other industries is http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Publications/archive_2008/draft_cultprop_armedconflict_bill.htm Investigations Steering Group and have been almost certainly going to lead to significant working with CITB to develop a professional increases in the recommended minima over coming archaeology route (rather than just a technician years (see Kate Geary, TA 65). route) to ensure archaeologists are able to get CSCS ••••• Just as TA was being prepared for press the Peter Hinton cards which allow them on to construction sites. In So, clearly, IFA needs to not only be doing these news came that James Purnell was moving to better Chief executive, IFA terms of demonstrating our professional things, but shouting them from the rooftops too. things and Andy Burnham MP was taking over as [email protected] competence, we are at last moving towards a system Mike’s article has pointed this out to us. I also think Culture Secretary with DCMS. His background is in whereby members have to not only show that they he is right about the mistake of archaeological the Treasury, and searches for his interests mostly Alison Taylor are skilled, but that they are keeping their skills up outreach focusing too much on children. In my ended in football, but he did an important stint with Editor, IFA to date through compulsory CPD (p5). opinion, there has been too much face-painting and perhaps our best Culture Secretary, Chris Smith, [email protected] not enough client liaison. and in that role was involved in restoring free entry In terms of financial rewards, we have enhanced the to museums and galleries. He is also keen on grass recommended pay minima by linking the financial Kenneth Aitchison roots involvement in governance, so we hope he bottom line to holidays, working time, sick leave IFA , head of professional development will be listening to what representative bodies such as IFA say as well. •••••

44 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 45 New members Dear Editor

The future of IFA - again ELECTED Member (MIFA) Associate (AIFA) Practitioner (PIFA) Affiliate Student Tomas Alusik Michael Bamforth Hazel Butler David Applegate Graham Arkley The need for increasing cooperation with other with ICE in relation to contractual arrangements Peter Cardwell Nicolas Bigourdan Ross Cameron Jim Ball Adam Barker organisations is acknowledged by Mike Dawson in but there also need to be links with RTPI, RICS, Jonathan Chandler Alistair Hill Elin Evertsson Rebecca Alistair Byford- TA 66, but briefly and almost as an aside, implying RIBA and the Landscape Institute. Michael Diack Benjamin Diana Forster Beardmore Bates that it is not a high priority. As Michael Heaton Sue Farr Holloway Simon Haddrell Julie Bowen Daniel Carter points out in the same TA, members of other Individual IFA members need to take Daryl Garton Maurice Hopper Chloe Hunnisett Elizabeth Cross Christopher Crabb professional institutes are not aware of IFA. opportunities to attend regional meetings of these Gavin Kinsley Guy Kendall Sally Lewis Kevin Fromings Jennifer Cronin organisations; regional IFA groups should organise Walter McCall James McMeekin Eloise Metson Sarah Howard Katie Dyer IFA as an organisation is introverted – it provides joint meetings (some years ago the IFA West Andrew Norton Joe Somerville Emma Nordström Priya Kanji James Fenner excellent services to its members but does not Midlands Regional Group organised a very Andrew Townsend Robert Tickle Laura Piper Nigel Lake Angela Fitzpatrick adequately promote the profession. There is an successful joint seminar with the regional RTPI Alice Ullathorne Richard Whaley Katie Sludden Victoria Park Fiona Fleming urgent and overriding need for IFA to be more branch); but above all IFA needs to take the Sadie Watson Christine Helen Foster extrovert and this needs to be high on the agenda initiative on a national level. Steven Willis Schepens Simon Hotchkiss for its future development. Archaeologists do not Brian Tansey Nigel Joyner work in isolation – indeed a strength of our Such contact will demonstrate and emphasise that Carole White Gavin Mather profession is our proven ability to work closely with archaeologists have an equal professional status to Gordon Wilkie Patrick Moan other professionals. Many archaeologists spend planners, surveyors, architects and landscape Emily Peto more of the average working day with non- architects. It follows that our true value can then be Michael Puntorno archaeologists than with archaeologists. I would reflected appropriately in fee and salary levels. Ken Saito strongly support the formation of a single institute Joanne Stables of historic environment professionals but this in Mike Hodder Angharad itself does not address the broader issue. IFA needs Planning Archaeologist Stockwell to establish contact and maintain links with Birmingham City Council Helen Taylor institutes of related professions – a start was made [email protected] Lyle Tompsen Panagiota Tsilogianni Ryan Watts Duncan Wright Dear Editor

Archaeologists’ pay Letters TRANSFERS Member (MIFA) Associate (AIFA) Practitioner (PIFA) Duncan Hale Margaret George Carstairs We read with interest Michael Heaton’s article discrepancy. The average salary with 3-6 years Rebecca Loader Broomfield Graeme Collie ‘W(h)ither the profession?’ (TA 66) but would like experience is £36,200 plus an average bonus of Richard Meager Elizabeth Gardner Catrin Matthews to point out a number of inaccurate statements £6891. Bruno Mezec Alison Nicholls Daniel Tarrant made in the feature. Tom Wilson Thomas Woolhouse While Heaton’s figures appear wildly inaccurate Emma Wood Whilst it is our opinion that the vast majority of there is a further issue. Most contracts offered to Jenny Young archaeologists are currently underpaid in graduates in the construction industry are comparison to other professions, Heaton appears to permanent. This is not the case in archaeology. propagate a worrying belief that graduate pay (ie Whilst most site assistant jobs are advertised site/HER assistant) is at an acceptable level. His around £13-15000, how many new site assistants are statement that graduate archaeologists earn the employed for a full 52 weeks of the year? same as graduate surveyors (c.£12-14k) is not supported by the RICS’s own annual survey of pay Training and bonuses for 2007 (RICS/Macdonald & Co. His comparison of training in the construction 2007) which gives the average salary for the 18-22 industry is also misleading. He states that acquiring age group is £17,000 plus bonus. At 23-26, it is Chartered status usually rests wholly with the £25,000 plus bonus. The results presented in terms individual and not with the employer, using the of years’ experience show an even more alarming RICS’s Assessment of Professional Competence MEMBERS

46 The Archaeologist Spring 2008 Number 67 47 (APC) as an example. However, this is the problem is compounded as organisations misunderstanding the construction industry. compete to put in the cheapest bid. Clearly, as Employers often offer graduates employment archaeologists, we need to establish appropriate contracts that are specifically tailored towards professional relationships with clients and to pay successfully progressing through the APC and due attention to the needs of development projects. achieving Chartered status. A recent survey by However, whilst we continue to operate from a Building magazine asking how much employers weak position, there is an inherent danger that spent supporting employees through the RICS client demands are allowed to undermine the APC ‘only revealed the diversity of training archaeological process, particularly once excavation programmes and the anxiousness of firms to work is underway. provide the most comprehensive support’ (Puckett 2007). Turner and Townsend responded that they Mike Heaton believes that archaeologists are not estimate it costs them £12000 per candidate to treated as professionals and that we cannot expect cover ‘training sessions, workshops, mock to be treated as such if we don’t place the correct interviews, travel, preparation, interview value on our position within the development preparation, feedback sessions, mentoring, process. How can we call ourselves professional if reviews and study time’ required to successfully we are not paid and trained accordingly? We agree undertake the APC (ibid). that much needs to be done to improve the client- archaeologist relationship, but we must not allow Heaton believes that many graduate archaeologists this to be done at the expense of the archaeology. are ill-equipped for the demands of professional The process of ‘professionalisation’ should include archaeology. However, he is apparently unaware archaeologists staffing and supervising excavation that this is also true in the construction industry, but sites. The quality of the archaeological record is as that training is widely recognised as an investment much dependent on their input as it is on the in the future, both for the employee and employer. managerial staff who set up and budget Undoubtedly archaeology graduates require archaeological projects. training to allow them to be successful, yet few receive the formalised training graduates in other Andrew Walsh and Jez Taylor industries expect. Whilst the introduction of an IFA Diggers Forum NVQ in Archaeological Practice (or an APC) has the Letters potential to raise standards, we cannot expect it to be successful if the financial burden falls entirely on RICS/Macdonald & Co 2007 The 2007 RICS and the individual. Archaeological companies must Macdonald & Company Salary and Benefits Survey, accept that they have a responsibility for staff http://www.rics.org/NR/rdonlyres/CEBAE4CE- training and development. 61C0-4509-A545- 13F33B2A818B/0/salary_survey2007.pdf Under-valued?/No client focus Valid points were made in these sections. We do Puckett K 2007 Assessment of prolonged cruelty, ‘undervalue ourselves and our skills’, and this is http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode= reflected in inadequate charge-out rates for all staff. 35&storycode=3101066&c=1 Working within the competitive tendering system, (Building, issue 48)

48 The Archaeologist